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

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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.

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"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 USA TODAY that the event has been scrapped.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fox News' debate for House speaker candidates falls apart following backlash