Trump, DeSantis Show Support for Jim Jordan as Race for House Speaker Heats Up

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump both agree that Jim Jordan (R-OH) would make a good speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Trump formally endorsed Jordan on Friday and DeSantis praised the Ohio congressman one day after the House voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from his post on Tuesday.

“You have guys like Chip Roy from Texas who’s excellent, Thomas Massie from Kentucky who’s excellent, Jim Jordan from Ohio,” the Florida governor told South Carolina’s WSPA on Wednesday. “These guys are all good guys and I think they would do a good job.”

Back in 2018, DeSantis endorsed Jordan in his bid to replace Paul Ryan as House Speaker.

Trump shared his endorsement in a post on Truth Social, writing: “[Jordan] is STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment … He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!”

WHO WILL REPLACE MCCARTHY?

Jordan is running against Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) in the race to replace McCarthy. As of Friday, Scalise and Jordan each secured over 20 endorsements from among the 221 Republicans in the House. The GOP members are expected to choose their leader in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Last week, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) led a successful effort to unseat McCarthy and was among the eight Republicans to vote for the speaker’s removal. Gaetz was joined by Eli Crane (R-AZ), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Bob Good (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Matt Rosendale (R-MT). Without those opposing GOP votes, McCarthy would have stayed in the role as the vote was decided by just six votes – 216 to 210.

Gaetz accused McCarthy of making a “secret deal” to provide more funding for Ukraine – an issue that has divided many Republicans – and committing a “brazen breach” of his agreement with House conservatives when he was elected nine months ago. In January, Gaetz’s nominated Jim Jordan (R-OH) for the position – and, days later, Donald Trump – amid pushback to the GOP’s efforts to elect McCarthy.

“The reason Kevin McCarthy went down today is because nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy,” Gaetz told reporters after the vote. “He’s the product of a corrupt system that rewards people who collect large sums of special interest money and then redistribute that money in exchange for political loyalty and political favors.”

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is currently serving as the acting speaker, but his powers are limited to recessing, adjourning or recognizing speaker nominations.

DeSantis used the drama in Congress as an opportunity to attack Trump’s previous support for McCarthy, and said he was among the first to criticize the now former speaker.

“I opposed McCarthy when it wasn’t cool years ago,” DeSantis said. “He’s really somebody that Donald Trump has backed and put into that position.”