Washington | Republican Steve Scalise withdrew from consideration for the speakership he was on the cusp of claiming on Thursday (Friday AEDT), after hardline Republicans balked at rallying around their party’s chosen candidate, leaving the House leaderless and the party in chaos.

Mr Scalise was narrowly nominated for Speaker during this week’s closed-door secret-ballot contest among House Republicans. But the No. 2 leader found himself far from the 217 votes needed to be elected on the House floor. Many supporters of his challenger, Jim Jordan, the right-wing Republican endorsed by former president Donald Trump, refused to switch their allegiance.