President Trump reissued his endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd on Friday after withdrawing his support for the Colorado Republican last month because the congressman voted against his tariff policy.
Mr. Hurd was one of six House Republicans who voted in February to overturn U.S. tariffs on Canada.
Mr. Trump withdrew his endorsement of Mr. Hurd 10 days after the vote and one day after the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs he placed on Canada and other countries under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act.
The president said Mr. Hurd let him down and called him a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, who is more interested in protecting foreign countries than the U.S. He threw his support behind Hope Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and critical care nurse who was running against Mr. Hurd in the primary.
On Friday, Mr. Trump reversed course, saying Mr. Hurd “will do a fantastic job” promoting a number of his priorities, including boosting American manufacturing and energy dominance.
He announced on social media that he met with Ms. Scheppelman and her husband Steven, also a Navy veteran, “to discuss various opportunities to serve our Country in a different capacity than her current run for the United States Congress.”
The president said Ms. Scheppelman will be ending her campaign, and she and her husband will join his administration “in a capacity to be determined.”
“We decided that Congressman Jeff Hurd, of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, should in no way, shape, or form, be impeded from winning the District in that the Democrat alternative is a DISASTER for our Country,” Mr. Trump said. “Therefore, I will be fully supporting Jeff’s Re-Election to the House of Representatives, giving him my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Mr. Hurd said in his own social media post the is “grateful” for the president’s support and his efforts to unify Republicans.
“The President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families,” he said.
Mr. Hurd’s district is not one Democrats have identified as a top target, but that could have changed if the incumbent lost the primary.
Mr. Trump made clear that his endorsement of Mr. Hurd was about ensuring Republicans retain the seat and preventing Democrats from winning the House majority.
“If they seize power, they will spend every minute trying to ‘turn back the clock’ to Record Inflation, Skyrocketing Prices, High Taxes, Open Borders, Men in Women’s Sports, Transgender for Everybody, Corrupt Elections, ‘Get Out of Jail Free Cards’ for Violent Criminals, and Terrorists, and much more,” he said. “We cannot let this happen!”
