U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle may soon be the target of a Senate investigation following a bombshell report accusing her of influence peddling.

Guilfoyle is under fire following a Wall Street Journal report that alleged, before she was confirmed as ambassador to Greece, she pushed a top donor to President Donald Trump to clear $100,000 in personal credit card debt.

And a top Senate Republican believes that following that report, an investigation may soon follow. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said on CBS News’ "Face the Nation" that "what we’ve seen in the reports is very troubling, it’s concerning."

TRUMP JR UNDER SCRUTINY FROM OWN PARTY OVER PUTIN-LINKED OLIGARCH'S LAVISH GIFT

"And I’m sure there’s gonna be an investigation," Barrasso said.

"I would assume the State Department would be conducting that," he continued. "I know the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will have oversight and look into that, as well. But I think the public has a right to know what was found, and it is quite a bit of concern."

Fox News Digital reached out for comment on a possible investigation to the State Department and Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

DONALD TRUMP JR MARRIES BETTINA ANDERSON AHEAD OF BAHAMAS WEDDING CELEBRATION

Guilfoyle, who was recently engaged to Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. until the two publicly split in 2024, was confirmed by the Senate last year for the post in Athens.

Barrasso’s prediction comes as allegations surrounding Guilfoyle and her time in Athens mount, and as speculation that her time in the role may be coming to an end. The State Department’s Office of Inspector General, the watchdog for the agency, has already opened a probe into Guilfoyle for previous alleged misconduct.

The Daily Mail reported that an investigation was already underway into Guilfoyle’s luxury lifestyle in Greece that included allegations of mistreatment of staff, substance abuse, close ties to an energy and construction company and the improper acceptance of gifts.

FORMER USCIS OFFICIAL, ACCOMPLICE CHARGED IN ALLEGED $960K CITIZENSHIP BRIBERY SCHEME

The latest claim against her is that she allegedly solicited Trump donor Eric Deters to pay off a $100,000 American Express bill directly to the credit card company, urged him not to leave a paper trail and offered to help him gain access to top administration officials in exchange. Deters said he never made the payment.

In the wake of that report, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are said to be "extremely pissed off" by Guilfoyle’s alleged conduct and are weighing her removal, The Associated Press reported Sunday, citing a senior U.S. official.

Rubio fired back shortly after the Wall Street Journal reported the allegations, saying, "You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something, and you reported it, it’s the gospel."

"It’s not the gospel," Rubio said. "It’s not the gospel for me. That’s not the way we do things."

Columbus Day commemorates a famous voyage across the Atlantic, but Americans don't have to travel nearly as far to discover some of the country's best pizza.

The 50 Top Pizza rankings of 2026 highlight restaurants from coast to coast, though what makes a pie worthy of the top spot is still a matter of taste.

New Haven, Connecticut-based food historian and pizza expert Colin Caplan told Fox News Digital that what constitutes the "best" pizza really comes down to personal preference.

AMERICA'S BEST-TASTING PIZZA CHAIN IS AN OLD-SCHOOL FAVORITE, SURVEY FINDS

Ranked lists such as those published by 50 Top Pizza are helpful for expanding palates and introducing people to restaurants and dishes to try, he noted, but there's usually some subjectivity at play.

"50 Top Pizza is a very well-respected Italian-based, chef-based site that really goes and finds what they think is the best," he said, but suggested the organization might have a slight bias toward certain pizza styles that align with its Italian roots, such as Neapolitan.

Ultimately, though, good pizza is all about the love that goes into it.

"If the heart is [in] it, the pizza is going to taste amazing," Caplan said.

These are the top five pizzerias in America for 2026, according to 50 Top Pizza.

Founded in 1996 by Anthony Mangieri, this New York City pizzeria has "a stand-up example of sit-down pizza," according to The New York Times.

AMERICA'S MOST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE PLACES TO ORDER PIZZA REVEALED IN NEW STUDY

Eater NY called the Margherita pie "a miracle of pizza development and evolution unlike any other Neapolitan pie in the world."

Mangieri personally makes each ball of dough by hand, the website says, and he shapes, tops and bakes every pizza himself.

This is the fifth year in a row that Una Pizza Napoletana has claimed the top spot in the 50 Top Pizza USA ranking. The restaurant also placed second in the 50 Top Pizza World 2026 ranking.

Operated by chef William (Sang Woo) Joo and his wife and partner, Jennifer So, Pizzeria Sei has been serving Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizzas since 2022.

RETRO PIZZA HUT DRAWS CUSTOMERS FROM HOURS AWAY AS 1980S NOSTALGIA SENDS SALES SOARING

The crusts are shaped using a crimping technique that, along with a quick baking time at high heat, leads to a unique, varied texture, the website states.

Tied for second place is Tony's Pizza Napoletana, a San Francisco establishment run by 13-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani.

In addition to Neapolitan, Tony's serves multiple styles of pizza, including Detroit, Sicilian, New York and Romana, among others. The pizzeria also placed fifth in the 2026 50 Top Pizza World ranking.

Chef and owner Dan Richer, a 2011 James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef semifinalist, opened Razza in 2007.

The pizzeria garnered a three-star review in 2017 from The New York Times, and in 2019 it was given the distinction of Best Pizza in North America by 50 Best.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS

The restaurant prioritizes fresh, high-quality ingredients and focuses on constantly improving their technique.

"Each ingredient is hand-picked, down to the salt that goes on the pizza," according to its website.

Both the bread and butter are made in-house, the flour is milled nearby in Clifton, N.J., and a homegrown yeast culture is added to the crust.

Founded by Donna Baldwin and John Arena, Truly Pizza focuses on using fresh, seasonal ingredients and supporting local farmers.

At the two-story, open-air Dana Point location, guests can enjoy coastal scenery while dining on artisan pizzas — both round and square — ranging from classic cheese to umami mushroom.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

The "menu is informed but not bound by tradition, and mindfully curated," the website says.

Truly Pizza also earned the No. 26 spot in the 2026 50 Top Pizza World ranking.

A concept by Italian-born chef Francesco Martucci, this pizzeria is where "wood-fired tradition meets South Florida energy," the website states.

Situated in the Miami neighborhood of Wynwood, the restaurant offers a wide range of pizzas, from the tomato-forward Assoluto di Pomodoro, featuring San Marzano tomato mousse and roasted cherry tomato cream, to the Fior di Zucca Al Quadrato, which has zucchini cream and squash blossoms.

Francesco Martucci's Miami restaurant earned the top spot in the 50 Top Pizza World ranking from 2019 to 2025.

The Justice Department has charged 64 foreign nationals across 17 states with unlawful voting, fraudulent voter registration and election-related offenses in roughly the last five weeks, according to figures provided to Fox News Digital, as federal prosecutors intensify election-integrity enforcement.

Minnesota leads the nation with 11 defendants, followed by Pennsylvania with 10 and Texas with nine. Louisiana accounts for five, while New Jersey, California and Florida each have four, according to the department's latest tally.

The nationwide crackdown comes as federal officials intensify scrutiny of voter-registration safeguards ahead of November's midterms, with recent elections underscoring how even a few illegal ballots can exceed the margin separating candidates. Fox News Digital mapped the states with the largest concentrations of defendants as DOJ says it has charged 104 people with voting fraud-related offenses since Trump returned to office in 2025.

SKID ROW FORGERIES, ILLEGAL VOTES AND A MAYORAL CANDIDATE: ELECTION FRAUD CASES PILE UP NATIONWIDE

"Every illegal vote cancels out the vote of a lawful American citizen. In 2020, Iowa's 2nd Congressional District race was decided by six votes," a DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital, referring to Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' narrow victory over Democrat Rita Hart.

DOJ said federal prosecutors are bringing more than twice as many election-fraud cases each week as the six-vote margin in the Iowa race.

NIGERIAN WOMAN IN MASSACHUSETTS CHARGED AFTER ALLEGED ILLEGAL VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

The spokesperson added: "Voting by noncitizens and other ineligible voters is a federal crime, and the department will enforce the law whether a case involves one illegal ballot or hundreds."

The cases involve allegations ranging from fraudulent registration applications to ballots cast in multiple elections.

The department is also securing guilty pleas in some cases, including against Filipino national Evelyn Miller of Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Miller pleaded guilty to illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election and faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

MORE THAN A QUARTER-MILLION NONCITIZENS MAY BE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 4 KEY STATES, DHS ALLEGES

"We intend to prosecute anyone who corrupts our democracy by illegally voting in its elections," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania David Metcalf said.

Also in Pennsylvania, federal prosecutors charged Haitian national Cliff Sanon with submitting a fraudulent voter registration application in Philadelphia County. Prosecutors allege he submitted eight registration applications and voted in the November 2022 election.

BLANCHE ANNOUNCES CHARGES AGAINST 10 PERMANENT RESIDENTS ACCUSED OF MINNESOTA VOTER FRAUD

In Minnesota, Ghanaian green card holder Joshua Kofi Edzie was charged with illegally voting in the state's August 2026 primary and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in connection with voter registration.

The prosecutions have also reached Republican-led states, including Texas, Louisiana and Florida, which account for 18 defendants combined in the DOJ figures provided to Fox News Digital.

In Louisiana, the feds indicted an ex-mayoral candidate on a charge of voting by an alien. Bridget Johnson, who ran in 2024 to lead Cotton Valley, Louisiana, allegedly submitted a registration in the name of Jamaican national Michael Wedderburn and falsely swore he was a citizen. Wedderburn then allegedly voted illegally in 2024 for president and mayor. He was also recently indicted.

In New Jersey, Republicans have pointed to several razor-thin elections amid a separate controversy involving approximately 6,600 people who indicated they were not citizens but were erroneously registered through the state's Motor Vehicle Commission. Fewer than 400 subsequently voted, according to Gov. Mikie Sherrill's administration.

Former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac recently highlighted municipal elections in Caldwell, Atlantic Highlands and Bogota decided by margins of four to six votes in 2023.

SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER

The state has not established that any of the affected voters changed an election outcome. Sherrill spokesman Sean Higgins previously said the governor "moved with transparency and accountability to remediate this error from 2023."

The prosecutions come as federal officials continue scrutinizing voter-registration safeguards ahead of November's midterm elections. Authorities have not established that any of the cases identified in DOJ's nationwide tally changed the outcome of an election.

A new proposal that could bring driverless rideshare vehicles to the streets of the nation’s capital is causing an uproar among union workers, drivers and religious leaders who fear the technology could eliminate jobs.

Protesters gathered outside the John Wilson Building as D.C. council members met to discuss legislation that would allow Waymo and other autonomous vehicle operators to offer commercial rides in Washington, D.C. The protesters urged the council to reject the legislation, arguing that an influx of robotaxis would displace rideshare drivers.

"We came out here today strongly because we feel that these robotaxis will put people out of work," one protester told Fox News Digital. "And people need jobs."

TERRIFIED PASSENGERS FILM WAYMO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DRIVING INTO LIVE FIREWORKS IN SAN FRANCISCO

"I'm against robotaxis because it takes away from the community, it takes away from their jobs, it takes away food from their table," Frederick from Virginia said.

He continued, "People need jobs to be able to support their family."

"It's bulls - - -," Sabrina from Washington, D.C., said. "Let's not bring robots taking my neighbor's jobs. My folks that drive for a living, let's just not take their jobs."

Another person at the protest acknowledged that autonomous vehicles could eliminate some driving jobs but argued the city should "take the offensive" by shortening the workweek without cutting pay and expanding employment elsewhere.

"We should take the offensive on job issues," Michael from Washington, D.C., said. "We should shorten the workweek, without a loss in pay. So we'll create more jobs in public transportation, in hospitals, in service industries. So we actually maybe will lose some jobs to taxi drivers, but we'll create better paying jobs."

The Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026 — introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen in May — would create a program for commercial autonomous vehicles in D.C. that would be run by the District Department of Transportation.

TESLA ROBOTAXI MIAMI LAUNCH COMES WITH LIMITS

Waymo says its latest safety data, covering more than 270 million miles of autonomous driving, shows its vehicles were involved in 82% fewer injury-causing crashes and 95% fewer crashes involving serious injuries or worse compared with human-driver benchmarks in the same operating areas.

Supporters of robotaxis have also pointed to the potential for lower fares without a human driver, although current comparisons have found Waymo's prices can vary widely and are not consistently cheaper than traditional rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.

Protesters claimed that while prices may be lower as the driverless vehicles roll out, the rates will eventually spike.

"That's just something just to…get our antennas up and have us saying, ‘Yeah, ooo, we're gonna get cheaper rides,’" Sabrina said. "It might be cheap for the trial periods, and then all of a sudden we'll be paying $50. So no, I don't believe that. That's just some crap just to get people engaged with the Waymo."

"They seem the same price to me," Helen from Maryland said. "They're in other cities and it seems like not much of a difference in the pricing."

ZOOX ROBOTAXI REDESIGN BRINGS BIG RIDER UPGRADES

The proposed regulatory framework, which could bring robotaxis to the city by 2028, would initially limit operators to 200 vehicles. Companies seeking commercial permits would have to demonstrate at least 180 days and 250,000 miles of autonomous vehicle testing in the District and submit plans aimed at reducing disparities in service availability and wait times across the city's eight wards.

There was a public hearing on the bill in July, but no vote has been scheduled. The bill would have to be approved by the entire council before self-driving cars start to hit the city’s streets.

"A worker should be at the table," Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO President Samuel Epps told Fox News Digital at the protest. "We shouldn't rush this."

"I don't think it's good for the city," Eddie said. "If my children gonna get in a car, I would prefer for a human to be driving."

McDonald's is putting its own briny twist on marathon weekend in Chicago.

The fast-food giant is handing out limited-edition bottles of "Pickle Boost" to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, starting Oct. 9 and continuing through race day on Oct. 11.

McDonald's said the promotion is inspired by pickle juice's popularity among athletes who use it when muscle cramps strike during workouts.

COMMON KITCHEN STAPLE MAY HELP RELIEVE MILD CONSTIPATION, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

Runners can pick up the bottles at a Friday morning pop-up on Chicago's Lakefront Trail, then at five McDonald's locations along or near the marathon route on race day, while supplies last.

The promotion taps into a longstanding belief that pickle juice can help prevent muscle cramps, which science partially backs up.

MCDONALD'S ROLLS OUT NEW 'PROTEIN' MENU BADGES, AND SOCIAL MEDIA USERS QUESTION THE NUMBERS

"Pickle juice may help relieve muscle cramps, but the research is mixed," said Jena Brown, RD, CSSD, a Texas-based sports dietitian and owner of Victorem Performance Nutrition, which works with endurance athletes.

One small study found that pickle juice appeared to help electrically induced cramps subside more quickly than water in dehydrated participants, said Brown, who is a longtime runner herself. But that research did not examine runners during an actual marathon, and another study found no benefit.

"Muscle cramps are not fully understood and are likely not induced by a singular cause for all runners," she said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Electrolyte losses may contribute to cramps in some athletes, but pickle juice's possible benefit may not be as simple as replacing sodium, Brown said. Another theory is that vinegar may stimulate receptors in the mouth and gut and affect signaling between the nervous system and muscles.

The evidence for that explanation is limited, and it should not turn pickle brine into a runner's primary race-day strategy, Brown said.

"Pickle brine is not a replacement for a hydration and fueling plan," Brown said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES

A typical sports drink supplies fluid and carbohydrates for energy, while a small sip of brine offers little fluid and no fuel, even though it contains electrolytes lost through sweat, she said.

Runners who have tried pickle brine in training may tolerate it well and believe it helps, Brown said. But she cautioned against debuting the sour, salty remedy on the day of the marathon.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"I would not recommend trying pickle brine for the first time on race day," she said.

If a severe cramp hits and a runner opts to try it, Brown recommends taking small sips rather than chugging it and gently stretching the affected muscle. Runners who are sensitive to salty or acidic drinks should be especially careful, she added, particularly later in a race when heat, fatigue and stomach upset can become bigger concerns.

Fox News Digital reached out to McDonald's for further comment.

Theatergoers filed into the Cahn Auditorium at Northwestern University on Tuesday to see a play comprised of testimonies from those impacted by the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel. As the attendees sat at the edge of their seats waiting to hear the fate of the people whose stories were told, a fire alarm went off, disrupting the evening.

Ann McElhinney, who co-wrote the play "OCTOBER 7" with her husband, Phelim McAleer, told Fox News Digital that many audience members initially remained seated, believing the alarms were part of the show.

"Initially, they thought it was part of the play because they heard these sirens going off, and the dialogue prior to that had been about sirens going off, rockets going off, the red alarm going off," McElhinney explained to Fox News Digital. "They were like 'Oh, this is part of the play,' until they realized it wasn't."

JEWISH CAMPUS LIFE AT A ‘CROSSING POINT’ AS STUDENTS WEIGH ANTISEMITISM RISKS, NEW REPORT SHOWS

After the theater had been evacuated and cleared by authorities, many people left, according to McElhinney, who told Fox News Digital that she believed that people were scared by the incident. However, she said others who chose to stay, feeling "defiant" and refusing "to be terrified by this."

McAleer noted that the performance ended with a standing ovation, which he believed was both a tribute to those who worked on the show and those who returned after the alarm went off.

"The standing ovation was for the actors, the standing ovation was for the director, the standing ovation was for the stories. But it's also, I think people were giving themselves a standing ovation that someone had tried to intimidate them, that someone had tried to say to them, 'You're not going to tell the truth. We don't want to hear the truth, we want to shut you up, we want to shut down, we want to frighten you and intimidate you.' And they didn't succeed," McAleer told Fox News Digital.

In response to Fox News Digital's request for comment, Northwestern Media Relations said in a statement, "At approximately 8:12 p.m., a fire alarm at Cahn Auditorium was activated, which caused the evacuation of the building. Upon a fire and police investigation, the building was determined safe, and guests invited back in. The event continued as planned and concluded at 9:45 p.m. The Northwestern University Police Department will continue their investigation."

CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM EXTENDS BEYOND STUDENT PROTESTS AND INTO CLASSROOMS, ADL WARNS

While the play was disrupted, McAleer and McElhinney said there were no protesters outside the venue at the start of the show. McAleer told Fox News Digital that while "people are perfectly entitled to protest outside the venue," what happened inside the theater was "more insidious."

The couple said they believe someone deliberately activated the fire alarm after sitting through much of the performance.

"This was someone, we believe, someone sat through the play and then came out at the most emotional time," McAleer told Fox News Digital.

"It's something very insidious that someone decided to disrupt this rather than even, by the way, have a protest, make their voice heard. But no, they decided they didn't want their — they did the sneaky, cowardly, insidious, nasty thing of setting off a fire alarm, causing huge fear and just absolute nervousness among the people who were there and caused this trauma on the anniversary of October 7th," McAleer added.

McAleer pointed out that while it was still Oct. 6 in Chicago where the play was held, it was already Oct. 7 in Israel when the fire alarm was activated.

'I AM OMER': FORMER HAMAS HOSTAGE REFLECTS ON SURVIVING 505 HARROWING DAYS IN CAPTIVITY

The spoken-word play is a collection of testimonies that McAleer and McElhinney compiled when they went to Israel shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks. McElhinney told Fox News Digital that the couple had been in Ireland as the attacks took place and were stunned to find that people were criticizing Israel's response the following day, seemingly overlooking the attacks themselves.

"We realized that if we didn't go and tell the story and do this work that, you know, it looks very much like nobody else was going to do that," McElhinney told Fox News Digital.

McAleer echoed a similar sentiment, saying that shortly after the attacks, they noticed that "everyone from journalists from the establishment, from university campuses — they all wanted to talk about the war in Gaza, but nobody wanted to talk about October 7th."

"Journalism is supposed to be the first rough draft of history. Nobody was writing that draft," he added.

The couple traveled to Israel — a place neither had visited before — rented a car and began trying to contact people willing to share their stories. McElhinney recalled that their hotel in Tel Aviv had a makeshift memorial for an employee who had been killed at the Nova music festival.

McAleer and McElhinney ultimately interviewed approximately 20 people, with testimony from 15 included in the play.

In addition to Northwestern University, the play, titled "OCTOBER 7," has been performed in New York City, Princeton, UCLA, Bowdoin College and the Kennedy Center. While the incident at Northwestern was noteworthy, it was not the first time the couple had to deal with security for their production.

McElhinney explained that during the play's New York City run, the production had a daily NYPD presence. She said she believed it was the only New York play in living memory to require police protection every day.

"That tells you something about free speech in New York City," McElhinney said. She pointed out that the play, which focuses on the experiences of Israelis, including Jewish survivors of the attacks, needed security while being performed in a city with a large Jewish population.

MIKE WALTZ FIGHTS BACK TEARS REVEALING WHAT HAMAS HOSTAGE REFUSED TO DO BEFORE RELEASE

Ultimately, McAleer said the incident at Northwestern revealed something about the state of American college campuses.

"American campuses are deeply strange, dangerous places at the moment for a Jewish person," he said. "You mean, you can't mourn your dead. You can't mark your anniversaries. You can't walk the campus without fear of being attacked or having your event disrupted."  

"You know you can have an event without massive and expensive security," McAleer added. "What does that say about the campus idea of freedom and free speech and free thought? Free thought is dead on American campus[es]. Free speech seems to be dead on the American campuses."

McAleer told Fox News Digital that the couple planned to file a police report about the incident and that "we hope that whoever did this feels a full force of the law because this cannot be allowed to stand."

One of President Donald Trump’s most prominent allies in Congress could soon become his highest-ranking defender against a barrage of Democrat-led investigations and impeachment threats.

Several House Republicans told Fox News Digital they expect the chamber will slide out of their control come November — and with it, a major shakeup in their top leadership ranks.

"I don’t see a scenario where everyone gets to keep their job," one House GOP lawmaker bluntly told Fox News Digital. "I think [Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.] would be first out, and then [House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.] has got to decide if he’s going to run for leader and, can he beat [House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio]?"

Jordan’s name was one that came up often in Fox News Digital’s discussions with various House Republicans, all of whom spoke under the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conference matters.

HOUSE DEMS PLOT TRUMP INVESTIGATION BLITZ IF THEY SEIZE MAJORITY

A second House Republican said Jordan is the "number one name" in talks of a GOP minority leader.

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES UNLEASH MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR MIDTERM BLITZ AGAINST DEM 'SOCIALIST' INSURGENCY

The Ohio Republican already enjoys high name recognition among the party base. As the first lawmaker put it, "His celebrity status is very helpful … when Jim Jordan comes to town for you, you put 300 butts in seats."

That status has been on full display so far this election cycle. Jordan has spent much of August and October traveling across the country campaigning for fellow House Republicans along the political spectrum, from vulnerable moderates to conservative MAGA acolytes.

TOP REPUBLICAN UNLOADS ON RISE OF 'ANTI-AMERICAN' CANDIDATES HEADING INTO MIDTERMS: 'YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING'

It’s a far cry from the Jordan who ran for speaker in October 2023, when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster sparked a historic scramble to replace him. Jordan’s bid at the time was marked by fervent conservative support and fierce opposition from moderates, several of whom said they felt threatened by Jordan’s allies for their opposition.

The first House Republican described his current persona as "Jim Jordan 2.0."

"He's taken steps to, I think, build out way beyond the Freedom Caucus in terms of people that support him," that person said. "Like, he’s just a great citizen of the conference."

But Jordan himself has not publicly pushed any leadership ambitions since the 2023 battle, when Johnson ended up speaker after several weeks of political chaos. The second House Republican said they’ve seen Jordan actively dismiss any such conversations.

He told Punchbowl News earlier this week that he was "focused on winning" the House majority.

The first person said, "I think [Jordan] quietly, without campaigning for it, has built up some infrastructure like that. But also, he could be throwing darts at leadership, and he's not. He's just trying to help us win."

A third House Republican pointed out that, if Democrats win the House in another blue wave, many of Jordan’s most vocal opponents from 2023 will have lost their seats. And unlike a speaker race, where a majority of the full House is needed, a minority leader would only need to win a majority of the GOP conference.

"If we lose 20 or 30 of those guys and all you’re left are guys like me, I think Jim Jordan's chances are much higher. Because the only people left in the conference are going to be conservative," the third GOP lawmaker said, adding they would "1,000%" back Jordan.

FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS: FOR THE DEMOCRATS, WHERE COULD IT POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

But a potential minority leader Jordan would not come without a fight. Most House Republicans are privately expecting Scalise, Johnson’s No. 2 and a member of House GOP leadership since 2014, to run for the job.

"It’s very obvious they’re both jockeying for it," a fourth House Republican told Fox News Digital. "Jordan’s a pretty big draw for a lot of folks. I think he might have a play there. But there’s a lot of people who are loyal to Steve, especially those that have been around a while."

A fifth GOP lawmaker said, "I would guess, at this point, that Scalise would be in the lead with Jordan running a close second."

"And I think it would just depend on, you know, who would people see as a better fighter against the Democrats?" the fifth person posed.

A sixth House Republican allied with Scalise said a fight between the Louisiana Republican and Jordan seemed on the horizon if Republicans lost, and argued his decision would be based on who is best positioned to continue leading if that majority comes back.

"In some respects, Jim Jordan, I think, would make a pretty good minority leader because he's a bulldog … [but] I've never believed that Jim Jordan would be an effective speaker," that sixth person said. "I think Steve Scalise probably is the best candidate that we have out there that has experience in dealing with the administration, that understands the must-pass portion of our agenda … and is our best negotiator."

It would likely be a bruising battle, given there’s no love lost between the two men after their competing bids for speaker after McCarthy’s ouster. Scalise had won a majority of Republicans in a head-to-head against Jordan behind closed doors but failed to clinch the necessary majority on the House floor.

JOHNSON DELIVERS BIG FOR TRUMP, BUT FRUSTRATION GROWS ACROSS RAZOR-THIN GOP MAJORITY

But it’s not clear if it may even come to that.

"I think that if Johnson runs for minority leader, he would still get the votes," the fifth person said. "He's done everything you could ask of a leader. He's raised the money, he's been on the road. He's cobbled together very difficult votes over the last two years that no one thought possible."

There is also a world where Republicans defy expectations to keep the House. And in that world, Johnson is all but guaranteed to remain in charge.

"Speaker Mike Johnson is an example of the American Dream. As Speaker, he's continued to defy the odds with a slim House majority and pass America First-bills," Trump’s campaign posted on X. "After Republicans win in November, they should re-elect Mike as Speaker quickly!"

If the polls prove correct, however, most people are expecting Johnson to willingly step aside.

"I don't think he's going to want to be minority leader after being the Speaker of the House, like, that doesn't make any sense to me," the fourth House Republican said.

The third GOP lawmaker was more blunt: "Johnson’s done."

Johnson himself dismissed any talk of leadership races in an interview with Fox News Digital last month.

"I really haven't given it a moment's thought because we're laser focused," he said when asked if he would seek to be minority leader. "This is a midterm unlike any other, and I'm convinced we are going to defy history and keep and grow this majority."

If Johnson’s prediction does not pan out, one member of leadership is expected to have a good shot at staying in his place: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

Emmer has been privately telling House Republicans that he intends to run for the whip job again no matter what, multiple people told Fox News Digital, avoiding a possible collision course with Jordan and Scalise.

"I think it was a brilliant move, saying, ‘You know what? I'm not going to do anything but try to keep my own spot,’" the first House GOP lawmaker said. "I think Tom's got pretty wide respect, and most of the handwringing from people was, ‘I don't want to have to pick between Tom and Jim.’"

The fifth person said, "It's my understanding that Emmer is, if there is a race, going to be happy being the No. 2."

But nothing is a sure thing in an environment where multiple House Republicans have said they are expecting a "bloodbath" in the midterms.

Three GOP lawmakers told Fox News Digital they expect Democrats to win between 20 and 25 seats — with Republicans’ redistricting efforts sparing them from an even more devastating loss.

A solid defeat, several House Republicans warned, could have people clamoring for a full leadership shakeup.

The second House Republican said the entire leadership team could be "wiped out" in that situation.

"It strikes me that there wouldn’t be a high likelihood of everybody just being OK with the status quo," the first person said.

In that case, there is another name people see waiting in the wings for a potential leadership bid: Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas.

"I keep hearing rumors but have not heard that directly," a seventh House Republican said. "My guess is that he is preparing to make a run in case the opportunity presents itself, but he’s being tactically quiet."

The second House Republican said they heard his name second only to Jordan in terms of frequency.

"When I was a candidate, I had no idea who he was, but he called me and gave money to my campaign," the first lawmaker said. "He’s very ambitious, but I don’t know what he’s aiming those ambitions towards."

Several people speculated that he could run for the No. 2 job as whip if Emmer opted to step aside or was forced to.

The fourth House Republican said they could see a world where Pfluger runs to be chairman of the House GOP campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

"I think that he's positioned himself very well to be able to be in some sort of leadership position. I think it just depends on what that looks like," that person said.

But there is one thing Republican lawmakers seem to largely agree on: November is not looking good.

"Everyone that I have talked to across the country is seeing the same numbers that I'm seeing. So if you're in anything less than an R+6, I think you're at risk," the third House Republican said.

The first person said, "There seems to be a lot of panic buttons being pushed."