Former President Donald Trump has officially endorsed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) as the next Speaker of the House, following the recent ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the position with the support of some Republicans and the entire House Democrat Caucus.
Trump took to social media to express his endorsement for Jim Jordan, citing the Ohio congressman’s impressive background, including his time as a high school wrestling champion and his achievements in higher education, including a law degree. Trump highlighted Jordan’s strong stances on various issues, including crime, border security, the military/veterans, and the Second Amendment.
Several other prominent Republicans had already signaled their support for Jim Jordan as the next Speaker of the House before Trump’s endorsement. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) and others praised Jordan’s leadership skills and ability to unite the Republican conference.
Rumors had circulated that Donald Trump might consider running for Speaker of the House, but his endorsement of Jim Jordan appears to have put those speculations to rest. Becoming Speaker of the House would have required near-unanimous support from House Republicans, which could have been challenging due to potential opposition within the party.
Additionally, Trump’s legal challenges, which include 91 felony counts spread across four indictments, could have posed issues for him becoming Speaker, as party rules dictate that GOP leaders must step down “if indicted for a felony for which a sentence of two or more years imprisonment may be imposed.” These rules are consistent with policies that apply to both Republicans and Democrats, as seen in the recent case of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) stepping down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after facing multiple felony charges related to an alleged bribery scheme.
