Former President Donald Trump told Fox News that Rep. Steve Scalise is "in serious trouble" health-wise and doesn't think the Metairie congressman would be able to function as an effective House Speaker.
"The problem, you know, Steve is a man that is in serious trouble from the standpoint of his cancer," Trump told Fox' Brian Kilmeade. "This is tremendous stress...I want Steve to get well, I just don't know how you can do the job when you have. That's a serious problem."
Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene made similar comments regarding Scalise's health and his bid for the speakership.
Scalise announced at the end of August that he has multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that he says his doctors told him is "very treatable." Scalise has already undergone one round of treatment and returned to work at the Capitol in mid-September.
Trump endorsed Ohio Republican Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House shortly after the House ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy from the job.
Scalise beat Jordan in a vote among House Republicans, but does not have enough support from his own party to win the vote on the House floor. Because the entire House votes for its speaker, Scalise cannot afford to lose more than four Republicans. All 212 House Democrats are expected to vote "no" no matter who the Republicans nominate for speaker.
