President Donald Trump on Saturday withdrew his endorsement of Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado, who has been critical of the president\u2019s tariff policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBased on a lack of support, in particular for the unbelievably successful TARIFFS imposed on Foreign Countries and Companies which has made America Richer, Stronger, Bigger, and Better than ever before, I am hereby WITHDRAWING my Endorsement of RINO Congressman Jeff Hurd,\u201d Trump said in a Truth Social post Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump added that he is instead endorsing Hurd\u2019s Republican primary opponent, Hope Scheppelman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheppelman thanked Trump for his endorsement in a social media post, writing, \u201cI just want to help President Trump repair the damage Biden and the Democrats did to our economy and our country, and I will not rest until we finish the job of making America affordable again for working families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hurd\u2019s office has not responded to NBC News\u2019 request for comment on the president\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump originally endorsed Hurd in October, saying at the time that the congressman was \u201cfighting tirelessly to Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Support our Incredible Military\/Veterans, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hurd was one of six Republican members of the House to vote to terminate Trump\u2019s tariffs on Canada on Feb. 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said in a post that the GOP Congress members who went against his tariffs would face political retribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAny Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!\u201d Trump said on Truth Social around the time the House voted last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hurd stood by his House vote in a social media post that supported the Supreme Court\u2019s decision Friday to strike down most of Trump\u2019s tariff policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI share President Trump\u2019s goal of securing fair and reciprocal trade and protecting American industry. Tariffs can be a useful tool when applied strategically,\u201d Hurd said in the post Friday. \u201cBut today\u2019s decision underscores the need for Congress to play its proper role in trade policy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheppelman criticized Hurd for his vote against the tariffs, writing in a post on X Friday, \u201c@RepJeffHurd and liberal judges should be supporting President Trump and the American people, not working against them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The president said in his post Saturday that he has only withdrawn an endorsement once before, when he took back his endorsement for Rep. Mo Brooks in Alabama\u2019s Senate election in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Trump also pulled his support from former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., in November. Greene, who built her platform in Congress upon MAGA ideology and was a staunch supporter of Trump, began criticizing him last year over the delay in releasing the Epstein files and the administration\u2019s support for Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greene announced her resignation from Congress shortly after Trump pulled his endorsement for her re-election campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTaking back an Endorsement is a difficult decision for me,\u201d Trump said in the post Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scheppelman, whom Trump now endorses for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, is a Navy veteran and a former vice chairwoman of the Colorado Republican Party, according to her campaign website. She has also had a 35-year career in health care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHope Scheppelman has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Colorado\u2019s 3rd Congressional District and, unlike RINO Jeff Hurd, HOPE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!\u201d Trump said in his post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said in the post that Hurd is \u201cmore interested in protecting Foreign Countries that have been ripping us off for decades than he is the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling Friday to strike down most of Trump\u2019s tariff policies, the president also suggested that the Supreme Court decision was swayed by foreign interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that foreign interests are represented by people that I believe have undue influence,\u201d the president said at a press conference Friday. \u201cThey have a lot of influence over the Supreme Court, whether it\u2019s through fear or respect or friendships, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n