The ex-president dived into the mayhem following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, characteristically seeking to cast himself as kingmaker and to steal the spotlight for himself. Then Trump teased the possibility that he could even step in as speaker himself on an interim basis. But the ex-president’s biggest bombshell was still to come – shortly after midnight, he endorsed Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan for the job. Jordan, who is running against Republican House Majority leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana for the top job, would likely augur a new period of fierce combat with the White House if he wins the speakership. He has opposed the US lifeline of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, and a Republican House majority led by Jordan would likely increase the chances of a government shutdown next month in a showdown over spending with Democrats.

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Persons: –, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, Jim Jordan, “, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Jordan, Steve Scalise, Scalise, McCarthy, ”, ” William Cohen, Bill Clinton, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, McCarthy –, Matt Gaetz, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, it’s, ” Rep, Dusty Johnson, ” Johnson, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Matt Rosendale, Rosendale, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump White House, Capitol, Ohio Republican, Trump, Republicans, Washington, GOP, Democratic, White, ABC News, Biden, ”, CNN News Central, Ukraine Locations: Washington, Louisiana, Ukraine, Jordan, bankrolling, Russia, Maine, Florida, California, South Dakota, Southern, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Russian