Gaetz open to Jordan or Scalise for speaker, says either would be 'monumental upgrade' from McCarthy

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Wednesday expressed openness to either Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan or Louisiana GOP Rep. Steve Scalise to become the next Speaker of the House.

Gaetz, who spearheaded the effort to remove Kevin McCarthy from the post, could prove a key vote in determining the lower chamber's next leader, especially given the narrow Republican margin of control. His openness to either candidate, both of whom have declared their intent to seek the post, suggests McCarthy's successor may have an easier time working within the conference than he did.

"[I]f it's Speaker Jim Jordan or Speaker Steve Scalise, there will be very few conservatives in the country who don't see that as a monumental upgrade over Speaker McCarthy," he said on Newsmax. "I nominated Jim Jordan back in January... Steve Scalise is also a great guy. I think the world of him. He’s someone I could vote for."

"I think that we'll see a number of talented people come forward," he added.

While Jordan and Scalise remain the only declared candidates as of press time, a handful of lawmakers have backed the election of former President Donald Trump.

Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a stalwart McCarthy ally, endorsed the former president on Tuesday evening saying "[t]he only candidate for Speaker I am currently supporting is President Donald J. Trump."

"He will end the war in Ukraine. He will secure the border. He will end the politically weaponized government," she added. "He will make America energy independent again. He will pass my bill to stop transgender surgeries on kids and keep men out of women’s sports. He will support our military and police. And so much more!"

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.