Fox News' debate for House speaker candidates falls apart following backlash

The televised debate between three candidates for speaker of the House was called off Friday, hours after it was first announced.

Fox News was set to host three House Republicans – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla. – in a joint interview Monday night.

Hern, who has yet to officially enter the speaker's race, said Friday afternoon he would not participate in the event.

"We need to make this decision as a conference, not on TV," Hern wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "The Republican conference needs a family discussion."

Spokespeople for Scalise and Jordan both confirmed to Paste BN that the event has been scrapped.