Trump Drops Jeff Hurd, Swaps Endorsement for Hope Scheppelman in Colorado Race

President Donald Trump on Saturday withdrew his endorsement of Colorado Representative Jeff Hurd, labeling him a “RINO” — or Republican in name only — over his lack of support for the president’s tariff agenda.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced he would instead endorse GOP challenger Hope Scheppelman for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District in the June 30 primary. The statement read: “Based 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, of Colorado’s 3rd District, and fully Endorsing Highly Respected Patriot, Hope Scheppelman, to take his place in Congress.”

Trump noted he had previously withdrawn support from former Representative Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) after Brooks shifted positions on the 2020 election. Brooks lost to Katie Britt (R-Ala.) in the 2022 GOP primary.

Hurd was part of a group of six House Republicans who voted with Democrats to repeal Trump’s 25% punitive tariffs against Canada by terminating the national emergency used by the president. Hurd defended his vote, stating: “If we normalize broad emergency trade powers today, we should expect that a future president — of either party — will rely on the same authority in ways many of us would strongly oppose. Institutional consistency matters.” He added: “The Constitution does not shift depending on who occupies the White House.”

Trump withdrew his endorsement one day after the Supreme Court struck down most of his tariffs in a 6-3 ruling, finding he had exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The president subsequently raised tariffs from 10% to 15%.

Hurd has not yet responded to Trump’s announcement.