Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in the House speaker race.
The 77-year-old former president revealed the endorsement — which likely makes Jordan the front-runner for speaker — in a Truth Social post early Friday morning.
“Jim, his wife, Polly, & family are brilliant — He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote, calling the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee a “star” who is “respected by all.”
Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) have both put their names forward as candidates for House speaker after the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the post earlier this week.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), who previously vowed to nominate Trump for the vacant speakership, first revealed Trump’s decision in a tweet Thursday, and he now says he intends to “fully support” Jordan’s bid.
“Just had a conversation with President Trump about the Speaker race,” Nehls wrote. “He supported Jim Jordan, and I believe Congress should listen to our party leaders.”
“I fully support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House,” he added.
Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) echoed his Republican colleagues.
Former President Trump holds a hurried press conference outside New York District Court on Day 3 of his fraud trial.ZUMAPRESS.com
“President Trump has endorsed the Chief Justice [Jim Jordan] for Speaker of the House. I believe we should listen to the words of our party leaders,” Moore tweeted, shortly after Nehls’ post. “I know Chairman Jordan will help us secure a real victory for the American people, and I fully support him for Speaker of the House.”
Trump putting his seal of approval on Jordan’s speakership bid came just hours after the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner revealed that he would accept a short-term role as House speaker “if necessary” to unify the GOP.
“They’ve asked me if I’ll take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I’m not doing it because I want to – I’ll do it if I have to, if they can’t make up their minds.”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) at the US House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing for the Impeachment Investigation of President Biden at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on September 28, 2023. Annabelle Gordon – CNP / MEGA
Trump has indicated that he is willing to fill the role for “a period of 30, 60, or 90 days,” but his primary focus is his presidential campaign.
The former president also told the outlet that he will travel to Washington and meet with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday, when the GOP conference will hold a candidate forum to discuss potential picks for the vacant speakership.
The full House is expected to begin the election process the following day and continue until a new speaker is elected.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) speaks during a press conference at the Jan. 6 House Committee hearing at the Capitol on June 15, 2022 in Washington, DC.Getty Images
Several GOP lawmakers who have expressed strong support for Trump’s speakership, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Greg Steube (R-Fla.), have yet to publicly switch their allegiance to Jordan.
Trump, who faces 91 charges in four felony cases, is ineligible for the speakership under current House GOP rules, which prevent individuals with criminal convictions from serving in the role — but those rules could be changed to clear the way for Trump’s speakership.
The Trump campaign and Jordan’s office did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
