Update 10/23/23: Jim Jordan is out of the race for Speaker after several attempts to gather a vote. A new GOP candidate will step up and be voted on at some point.
After largely staying out of the fray during the fight between Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, a fight that culminated in Rep. McCarthy losing his leadership position, Trump has now jumped into the fight to take a stand in support of Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for the Speaker’s gavel.
Trump did so shortly after midnight on October 6th, posting on Truth Social in which he called Rep. Jordan a “STAR” and highlighted Rep. Jordan’s success in his previous career, along with his strong conservative credentials.
Trump said, “Congressman Jim Jordan has been a STAR long before making his very successful journey to Washington, D.C., representing Ohio’s 4th Congressional District. Respected by all, he is now Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. As President, I had the honor of presenting Jim with our Country’s highest civilian award, The Presidential Medal of Freedom. So much is learned from sports, and Jim was a master! While attending Graham High School, he won State Championships all four years, a rarity, and compiled an amazing 156-1 record. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jim became a two-time NCAA Division l Wrestling Champion. He won his 1985-86 NCAA Championship Matches in his weight class.”
Continuing, the former President added, “Jim has a masters degree in Education from Ohio State University & a Law Degree from Capital University. He is STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment. Jim, his wife, Polly, & family are outstanding – He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!”
Following Trump’s endorsement, Rep. Troy Nehls, who previously nominated Trump to be the Speaker of the House, posted, “Just had a great conversation with President Trump about the Speaker’s race. He is endorsing Jim Jordan, and I believe Congress should listen to the leader of our party. I fully support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House.”
Trump, for his part, responded to the Nehls nomination by saying, “I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress. If they don’t get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer-term, because I am running for president.”
He continued, “They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion — I’m not doing it because I want to — I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision.”
Others are flocking to Jordan as well. Rep. Harriet Hageman, for instance, told Breitbart, “Jim Jordan is the definition of a solid conservative and a truly effective leader, and I am proud to publicly express my strong support for him to become the next Speaker of the House. He is a friend and true ally of our America First agenda. Jim was one of the first members of Congress to provide counsel and guidance to our campaign to take back Wyoming’s lone congressional seat. He didn’t blink, he didn’t flinch, and he was in from the get-go.”
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