Jim Jordan catches heat from GOP colleagues who say he 'sold out'

Once described by a Republican colleague as MAGA’s “legislative terrorist,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has uncharacteristically “remained on the sidelines” since President Donald Trump retook the White House, fueling speculation that his quieter approach reflects a bid for party leadership, while also drawing criticism from within the GOP for abandoning his principles.

Jordan last made a bid for House speaker after Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ousting as speaker in 2023, but was unsuccessful and ultimately lost out to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Since January of last year, Jordan has “taken a much lower-key approach to internal House politics,” Politico reported on Monday, a change that was “on display” during the congressional squabble over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding.

A member of the hardline and far-right House Freedom Caucus, Jordan was initially receptive to the DHS funding bill passed by the Senate that omitted funding for federal immigration enforcement agencies, having noted “the upsides of the plan,” Politico reported. Jordan had also advocated for extending a mass surveillance program last month, a 180 from his past position opposing the program.

At least two of his Republican House colleagues had taken note of Jordan’s shift, and described the lawmaker’s “flip” as a “clear” sign of his higher political aspirations.

“The old Jim Jordan wouldn’t have done this,” one Republican House lawmaker told Politico, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “It’s clear that he sold out in order to keep chairmanship or to move up in leadership.”

Jordan’s shift was so severe that it “surprised even Democrats,” according to Politico, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) noting that he appeared “pretty close to the center of gravity” of the Republican Party, a dramatic shift from the hardline positions that once placed him on the GOP’s far-right fringe.

“I don’t know whether he has traveled more towards the center of the Republican conference or the Republican conference has traveled more towards Jim Jordan,” Raskin told Politico. “But in any event, it feels like he’s pretty close to the center of gravity right now.”