Rumored House Speaker hopeful Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) released a statement Saturday morning, calling for unity among Republicans and announcing his intention to bow out of the race.

Hern, whose name was floated numerous times alongside declared candidates Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), explained that he had considered the opportunity but had ultimately come to the conclusion that a three-way race for the Speaker’s gavel would only serve to divide the party more.

“I’ve been on the phone 50+ hours with Republican members and what’s clear is we all want UNITY,” Hern said in a post on X. “I believe a three-man race for Speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a Speaker.”

I’ve been on the phone 50+ hours with Republican members and what’s clear is we all want UNITY.

I believe a three-man race for Speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a Speaker.

Read my letter here: pic.twitter.com/Sea4gPCS94

— Congressman Kevin Hern (@repkevinhern) October 7, 2023

“I called, texted or met in-person with all 221 members of the House Republican Conference, asking each member what they want to see in the next Speaker and how we can move forward as a Majority,” Hern’s statement read in part. “The overwhelming response I heard from you is that we must unify and come out of this situation stronger as a Majority. While many of you have emphasized the necessity for new blood in our leadership, the need for unity comes first and foremost.”

Hern went on to say that he was absolutely ready to support either Jordan or Scalise — both of whom he referred to as “good friends” and “proven leaders” — as they moved forward.

“Now is the time to put the future of our nation first because a divided majority will result in an even more fractured country,” Hern continued. “This is bigger than me or any one person.”

Hern concluded with a call to Republicans to commit to come together and rally behind a candidate who could command 217 votes in order to win the speakership.

Former President Donald Trump warned last month about terror attacks in the Middle East after his successor, President Joe Biden, released $6 billion in frozen oil revenues to Iran.

The resurfaced prediction popped up online Saturday, following Hamas’ surprise assault on Israel, which included the firing of rockets and attacks on Israeli military personnel and civilians. Hamas, an Islamic terrorist group that is funded in-part by Iran, notably launched the attack on the holiday of Simchat Torah and on Shabbat — the Jewish day of rest that is observed by many in Israel.

“[One] month ago Trump predicted the $6 Billion that Biden gave Iran would be used for terror attacks across the Middle East and specifically kidnapping,” conservative Jack Posobiec captioned a screenshot of Trump’s prediction on X. “This is exactly what we are seeing in Israel this morning.”

Biden released the $6 billion to Iran in exchange for the regime releasing five American prisoners it had detained for years.

Trump’s post, which was published on September 11, said, “Can you believe that Crooked Joe Biden is giving $6 Billion to the terrorist regime in Iran? That money [will] be used for terrorism all over the Middle East, and, indeed, the World. This incompetent FOOL is absolutely destroying America. He had the audacity to announce this terrible deal today, September 11th.”

“To pay for hostages will lead to kidnapping, ransom, and blackmail against Americans across the globe,” Trump added. “I freed many dozens of our people from various unfriendly countries and never paid a dime!”

Posobiec’s post has been viewed over 1 million times.

1 month ago Trump predicted the $6 Billion that Biden gave Iran would be used for terror attacks across the Middle East and specifically kidnapping

This is exactly what we are seeing in Israel this morning pic.twitter.com/ao2avPQrll

— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 7, 2023

Others online invoked Trump following the attacks in Israel. For example, radio host and author Mark Levin noted of Trump’s Abraham Accords.

“Trump cut off funds to the Palestinians, unleashed unprecedented peace initiatives in the Abraham Accords, killed the Iran deal, was starving the Iranian regime of resources with crushing sanctions, and Biden not only reversed it all, including funding the Palestinians and Iran, but undermined Netanyahu at every turn, refused to meet with him, demanded that Israel make more concessions to the Palestinians,” Levin posted. “Appeasement and worse has consequences.”

Mike Cernovich posted on X, “Now you know why there are towns in Israel named after Trump. This stuff wouldn’t happen under him, as Trump doesn’t want Hamas children used as human shields, and he focused on targeted assassination of Hamas terrorists. He wasn’t spying on domestic enemies, like [the] Biden regime.”

Now you know why there are towns in Israel named after Trump. This stuff wouldn’t happen under him, as Trump doesn’t want Hamas children used as human shields, and he focused on targeted assassination of Hamas terrorists. He wasn’t spying on domestic enemies, like Biden regime.

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 7, 2023

Trump said in a statement released Saturday that Hamas’ attack on Israel is a “disgrace,” adding that Israel “has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force.”

“Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration,” the statement continued. “We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible. Here we go again.”

On TruthSocial, Trump wrote, “Joe Biden’s ineptitude, weakness, and incompetence has led to this horrible attack on Israel, and it will only get worse. Just four years ago we had the signing of the historic Abraham Accords, and today we have an attack on Israel. What a difference a President makes!”

Related: Death Toll Rises, Hundreds Wounded After Palestinian Terrorists Launch Unprecedented Attack On Israel