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NEW DELHI: Former president of the US Donald Trump has officially backed his longtime loyalist and Ohio congressman Jim Jordan for the post of speaker in the House of Representatives, which fell vacant after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, reported The Guardian.
Jordan, who is also the founding member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, is likely to succeed McCarthy after voting, scheduled to take place next week.
“Congressman Jim Jordan has been a STAR long before making his very successful journey to Washington, DC, representing Ohio’s 4th Congressional District,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social media platform, according to The Guardian.
“He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!,” Trump added.
Kevin McCarthy became the shortest-tenured US House speaker in 147 years on Tuesday (October 4), ousted by Republican hardliners who toppled him with a rarely used manoeuvre that had never before succeeded.
The now-former speaker lost his gavel on a vote of 216 to 210, with 208 Democrats joining the eight Republicans who broke ranks. His speakership lasted only 269 days, the third-shortest in history.
The motion to remove McCarthy from the position of Speaker was filed by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz shortly after Congress approved funding to temporarily avert a government shutdown.
Meanwhile, Jordan is one of two leading candidates into the fray for the seat of speaker along with the Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise. Both have been trying to secure the 218 votes required to win the post.
However, the majority would require the support of both the far-right and moderate factions of the party. Whether Trump’s endorsement will persuade Scalise to step down from the race remains opaque.
Trump earlier in the day had been in talks to visit Capitol Hill next week ahead of a speakership vote that could happen as soon as Wednesday, reported The Guardian.
Jordan, who is also the founding member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, is likely to succeed McCarthy after voting, scheduled to take place next week.
“Congressman Jim Jordan has been a STAR long before making his very successful journey to Washington, DC, representing Ohio’s 4th Congressional District,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social media platform, according to The Guardian.
“He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!,” Trump added.
Kevin McCarthy became the shortest-tenured US House speaker in 147 years on Tuesday (October 4), ousted by Republican hardliners who toppled him with a rarely used manoeuvre that had never before succeeded.
The now-former speaker lost his gavel on a vote of 216 to 210, with 208 Democrats joining the eight Republicans who broke ranks. His speakership lasted only 269 days, the third-shortest in history.
The motion to remove McCarthy from the position of Speaker was filed by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz shortly after Congress approved funding to temporarily avert a government shutdown.
Meanwhile, Jordan is one of two leading candidates into the fray for the seat of speaker along with the Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise. Both have been trying to secure the 218 votes required to win the post.
However, the majority would require the support of both the far-right and moderate factions of the party. Whether Trump’s endorsement will persuade Scalise to step down from the race remains opaque.
Trump earlier in the day had been in talks to visit Capitol Hill next week ahead of a speakership vote that could happen as soon as Wednesday, reported The Guardian.
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