Trump Keys on Jim Jordan’s Wrestling History in Speaker Endorsement

Nikki McCann Ramirez
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Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan in the race to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. In his endorsement, the former president largely skipped over highlighting Jordan’s record in government, instead choosing to laud his achievements as a collegiate wrestler.

“Congressman Jim Jordan has been a STAR long before making his very successful journey to Washington, D.C.,” Trump wrote early Friday morning on Truth Social.

“So much is learned from sports, and Jim was a master!” Trump added, before diving into a crash course on Jordan’s wrestling achievements from his high school years through college. The former president did include a throwaway line on Jordan’s position near the end of his endorsement. “He is STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment,” Trump wrote.

Of course, Trump left out what is probably the defining story of Jordan’s wrestling career: accusations from former wrestlers that, as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University, Jordan turned a blind eye to allegations that team physician Richard Strauss was sexually abusing young men under his supervision.

Jordan denies ever having knowledge of abuse by Strauss. At least six students who wrestled under Jordan have stated the congressman knew of Strauss’ actions and failed to act upon them. In 2021, Jordan was named as a defendant in a class action lawsuit against the university and staff members accused of covering up the abuse.

The Ohio wrestling scandal, and the allegations against Jordan, became public in the summer of 2018, and cast a shadow over Jordan’s first attempt at securing the speakership as a replacement for former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). Days before Jordan announced his entrance into the race, which he would ultimately lose to McCarthy, Ryan publicly stated that he felt no need for Congress to launch an ethics investigation into the claims about Jordan’s tenure at Ohio State. Despite Ryan’s dismissal of an investigation, the growing scandal plagued coverage of Jordan’s run.

Trump himself defended Jordan at the time the scandal broke, outright telling reporters that he didn’t “believe” the wrestlers who accused the Ohio congressman of covering up the misconduct “at all.” 
The former president seems eager to involve himself in the process of electing a new Speaker. Trump is reportedly considering making an in-person visit to the Capitol to discuss the matter with lawmakers and has even entertained assuming the position himself. “They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion […] I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision,” Trump said Thursday, adding that he would find a “30, 60, or 90-day period,” of temporary service acceptable.

Jordan announced his bid for the speakership on Wednesday, his third attempt at securing the position during his tenure in Congress. On Monday, Jordan will reportedly participate in a televised Fox News debate with fellow candidates Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) to make his case for the role.

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