Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is challenging retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan’s preferred replacement, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo Hannity endorses Jim Jordan for House speaker The words of support from Trump’s favorite television personality won’t hurt the Ohio conservative's chances.

Fox News host Sean Hannity appeared to endorse Republican Rep. Jim Jordan’s long-shot bid for House speaker on Friday in an interview with the founding member of the Freedom Caucus.

“If you become the speaker — and look, I will support you for speaker, because I think the Freedom Caucus has been the most committed to fighting to keep their promises and literally the single biggest group fighting to defend the things that are conservative in the country and have helped the president the most,” Hannity said on his Friday-night show.


Jordan, an Ohio conservative firebrand and Trump loyalist who earlier this week spearheaded an unsuccessful effort to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, is challenging retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan’s preferred replacement, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Jordan is also currently embroiled in a scandal from his time as an Ohio State University assistant wrestling coach from 1986 to 1994.

Former student wrestlers who were harassed in their training facility by sexually aggressive men or were sexually abused by Richard Strauss, the university’s former athletic doctor, have accused Jordan of turning a blind eye to the misconduct.

Jordan has denied knowledge of the abuse.

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Though Jordan will almost certainly not win the votes required to claim the gavel, the words of support from President Donald Trump’s favorite television personality won’t hurt his chances.

Hannity is a confidant of the president’s who functions as an informal White House adviser, as well as a megaphone for Trump’s agenda and messaging priorities.

Earlier Friday, after trumpeting the Commerce Department’s second-quarter report from the South Lawn of the White House, the president made an unexpected call-in to Hannity’s afternoon radio show to continue touting the 4.1 percent growth in gross domestic product.

“Mr. President, congratulations,” Hannity said, welcoming Trump on the air.