There’s an even bigger loser in this than Jim Jordan, and his name rhymes with “Ronald Grump”

| 5:00 pm EDT October 20, 2023
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Not only did Jim Jordan lose three public votes for Speaker of the House by increasingly large margins, he then went on to lose a House Republican secret ballot by an even bigger margin. It was utterly humiliating defeat for Jordan, which exposed him not only as a pariah within his own party, but also a rather ineffective bully.

But there was an even bigger loser in this. Remember awhile back when Donald Trump endorsed Jim Jordan for Speaker? You may have forgotten about it by now, because it had that little impact. Even after the endorsement, House Republicans nominated Steve Scalise instead of Jordan. They only gave Jordan a chance after Scalise’s nomination fell apart. And even then, they didn’t give Jordan the votes.

This is latest proof that Donald Trump’s influence over this Republican House is simply not what the media (on both sides) makes it out to be. If Trump supposedly has an “ironclad grip” over the Republican House, then how come Jim Jordan isn’t Speaker right now? How come Trump didn’t get his government shutdown in September? How come Trump didn’t get the first shutdown he demanded back in May? How come Trump didn’t get an impeachment vote against Biden?

As a statement of fact, Trump has never had control over the 2023 iteration of the Republican House. It’s just never been true at any point. These House Republicans are irredeemably corrupt, but they’re not adhering to Donald Trump’s preferred agenda. They think Trump is finished, so they’re tiptoeing around him, and doing whatever they want. Their refusal to make Trump’s endorsee Jim Jordan the Speaker is proof that Trump’s influence is at an all time low.

So while Jim Jordan now has to limp away from this with his tail between his legs, he still gets to House Judiciary Committee Chair. He still gets to carry out his small time agenda in his little corner. The biggest loser here by far is Donald Trump. He just found out that his “influence” over the Republican House is essentially worthless. Also, by the way, Trump is going to prison.