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Ending speculation that he would actively seek the newly-vacated House speakership, former President Donald Trump<\/strong> endorsed<\/a> Ohio Representative Jim Jordan<\/strong>, the powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, for the top job on Friday, jumping into what for now is a two-way race between Jordan and Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise<\/strong>, who currently serves as House Majority Leader.<\/p>\n Dubbing Jordan a \u201cSTAR,\u201d Trump called<\/a> the Ohio congressman \u201cSTRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military\/Vets, & 2nd Amendment,\u201d adding that he \u201cwill be a GREAT Speaker of the House, & has my Complete & Total Endorsement!\u201d<\/p>\n So far, only Jordan and Scalise have officially jumped into the race that began on Tuesday when California Representative Kevin McCarthy<\/strong> was ousted from the speakership\u2014a historic first.<\/p>\n Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, is a hardcore Trump loyalist and It\u2019s unclear how much the endorsement will actually help Jordan, as the GOP needs to unite a fractious caucus before the speaker vote next week. \u201cIt likely hurts more than helps,\u201d one GOP lawmaker, speaking anonymously, told<\/a> Axios Friday. \u201cLikely Jordan accelerates getting the votes he was going to get anyway but hardens those he wasn\u2019t getting faster.\u201d Another said Trump\u2019s endorsement \u201cworks both ways. Some will be impressed, some are sick of him and would like him to stay in Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n A conservative lawmaker who supports Jordan told Axios that \u201cthe real question is can Republicans in districts Biden won vote for a Trump-endorsed Speaker?\u201d noting that House members in vulnerable seats are going to have to publicly cast votes on the House floor\u2014one that could potentially haunt them in 2024.<\/p>\n On Friday, McCarthy, who has said he will not seek the job again, declined<\/a> to say who he might support as his replacement. Asked for his opinion about Trump\u2019s endorsement, McCarthy simply noted that \u201conly members vote\u201d in the speaker election. \u201cI think the members can sit down, and they can make the decision,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n McCarthy added that Jordan and Scalise sought his advice before a forum for speaker candidates next Tuesday. \u201cThey\u2019re both good friends,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to both of them.\u201d The House will vote on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who led the charge against McCarthy, has praised both Jordan and Scalise as good options. Either, he said<\/a> Wednesday, would be a \u201cmonumental upgrade\u201d from McCarthy. According to The Washington Post<\/em>, Speaker Scalise or Speaker Jordan would be<\/a> the most ideologically conservative Republican to hold the post in recent history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nis<\/del> a divisive figure within the GOP. From his congressional leadership perch, he has launched investigations into the Biden family and is one of the leaders of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into the president.<\/p>\n