Trump baffles with 'stunning reversal' as he endorses candidate he'd slammed as 'RINO'

President Donald Trump left at least one reporter baffled Friday after re-endorsing a candidate he previously abandoned and derided as a “RINO,” or “Republican in Name Only.”

That candidate is Rep. Jeffrey Hurd (R-CO), who last October received a glowing endorsement from Trump in his re-election bid. After Hurd came out against Trump’s tariff policy last month, however, Trump angrily withdrew that endorsement, labeling Hurd as a “RINO” who was “more interested in protecting foreign countries” than in the United States.

Trump reversed that position again on Friday after revealing that Hurd’s GOP primary opponent – whom Trump had endorsed over Hurd – would instead be joining his administration in a yet-to-be-determined capacity.

“Stunning reversal here as Trump re-endorses Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado after pulling support weeks ago to back his opponent,” wrote The Washington Post reporter Kadia Goba Friday in a social media post on X. “Hurd voted to rescind the president’s war powers ability & lobbied lawmakers to overturn the president’s veto of a Colorado water project this cycle.”

In his Friday social media post, Trump made no mention of his previous spat with Hurd, and issued him his “complete and total endorsement,” while also encouraging “every true MAGA supporter and Republican” to vote for the incumbent Colorado congressman.

“It is time to stand together against the people that want to destroy our Great Nation, and vote for Jeff Hurd,” Trump wrote Friday on his social media platform Truth Social.

“[Hurd] will do a fantastic job as your Congressman, including Growing the Economy, Cutting Taxes and Regulations, Promoting MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advancing American Energy DOMINANCE, Keeping our Border SECURE, Supporting our Military/Veterans, Defending our always under siege Second Amendment, and Ensuring PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH. Congratulations to Jeff Hurd and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”