Tom Emmer drops out of speaker's race

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has dropped out of the race to become the Speaker of the House, doing so within hours of the Republican conference backing him for the post.

Emmer triumphed over a litany of other candidates in a string of Republican conference votes on Tuesday to become the party's choice for the post. After becoming the speaker designee, however, former President Donald Trump came out against his leadership, telling Republicans that to give him the position would be a "tragic mistake."

"TOM EMMER has dropped out of the race for speaker," Punchbowl News's Jake Sherman posted on Tuesday afternoon. The Minnesota Republican does not appear to have publicly commented on the matter and reportedly left the conference meeting without saying a word.

"He just …… left. Said nothing," Sherman posted shortly before confirming Emmer's withdrawal.

His withdrawal makes him the third speaker designee to back out after Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan both failed to unite the conference.

The lower chamber cannot return to normal business or address any legislation until the selection of a new speaker.

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