Donald Trump Refuses To Back Any Candidate In GOP Speaker Race

Former President Donald Trump announced he is currently abstaining from endorsing any candidate for the GOP House Speaker position.

What Happened: Trump expressed his intent to “stay out of it” for the time being during a campaign stop in New Hampshire after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) dropped his bid last week, CBS News reported.

This decision came despite appeals for his support from many of the contenders.

Earlier, Trump-endorsed Jordan was forced to withdraw from the speaker race last week following three unsuccessful voting rounds.

“I’m staying above it. I have to right now,” the former president told the media.

“But I’ve spoken to just about all the candidates, there are quite a few of them. And they’re terrific people.”

“I have to hold it for a while.”

Why It Matters: The GOP House Speaker race is an internal contest within the Republican party. The election process will take place behind closed doors on Tuesday morning, with eight GOP lawmakers currently vying for the nomination.

Here is the list of the Republican candidates running for House Speakership:

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.)
Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.)
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.)
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA)
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.)
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tx.)
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.)
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.)

The House Speaker position has remained vacant for more than two weeks following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Oct. 3. This internal strife within the GOP has hindered legislative proceedings at a particularly challenging time, with global events like the Israel-Hamas war and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine requiring decisive action from the House.

Photo by a katz on Shutterstock

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Donald Trump Refuses To Back Any GOP Speaker Candidate After Jim Jordan's Bid Falters: 'Trying To Stay Out Of It'