Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters Wednesday morning that he is running for speaker of the House -- the first member to publicly throw their hat in the ring.

Jordan, a top Trump ally and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has ruled out running for speaker in the past.

Jordan said Wednesday morning that the messages and phone calls of support he has received so far "seems strong."

"I think the key is to unite the conference," Jordan said. "I think I can."

In addition to Jordan, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has begun making calls to gauge support as has Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Arthur Jones

Former President Donald Trump, arriving to court for the third day of his civil fraud trial, commented on the speaker's race -- specifically, the calls from some hard-line conservatives such as Marjorie Taylor Greene for him to serve in the role.

"I'll do whatever it is to help. But my focus, my total focus is being president," he told reporters.

It's not the first time we've heard Trump's name floated for the position. Back in January, amid McCarthy's fraught battle for the gavel, Gaetz actually cast a ballot for Trump during one of the 15 rounds of voting.

It would technically be possible because the Constitution doesn't specify that the person be a current member or member-elect, but it's not likely.

Trump didn't say who he would like to see succeed McCarthy but said, "We have some great people in the Republican Party that could do a great job as speaker."

-ABC's Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kendall Ross

Rep. Patrick McHenry, the new speaker pro tempore, is currently occupying the speaker of the House's office in the Capitol. Notably, the sign still reads "Speaker Of The House Kevin McCarthy."

-ABC's Arthur Jones

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has started making the rounds, calling members to see if they would support him if he formally threw his hat in the ring, sources told ABC News.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who has previously dismissed the idea of wanting to be speaker -- would not rule it out on Tuesday night. Republicans sources close to Jordan say he has started to have conversations about a potential bid.

Another name being floated for the position: Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, the head of the Republican Study Committee.

The House has canceled votes and all remaining legislative business for the week. Republicans plan to gather behind closed doors Tuesday for a candidate forum -- eyeing a vote for speaker as early as Wednesday, sources said.

After Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., delivered a speech castigating McCarthy and explaining why he was joining Gaetz in the motion to vacate, Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma spoke out in support of McCarthy and warned of "chaos" should the conference's breakaway faction succeed in removing him.

"They're willing to plunge this body into chaos, and this country into uncertainty, for reasons only they understand," Cole said. To the Democrats who are expected to vote against McCarthy as well, Cole said, "Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos."

Cole also celebrated how McCarthy had navigated the differences in the closely divided House -- and Washington more broadly -- to notch spending cuts in the debt limit fight earlier this year, pushing back on criticism from Gaetz and others that McCarthy hadn't done enough to curb the federal budget.

Cole also suggested McCarthy had proven himself capable of making sure the House would continue to accomplish Republican priorities.

"I'm very proud of this speaker. I'm very proud to stand behind him. Tomorrow morning, whether I win or lose, I'm going to be pretty proud of the people I fought with and I'm going to be pretty proud of the person I fought for," Cole said.

-ABC News' Adam Carlson