President Donald Trump has withdrawn his endorsement of Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd following a public disagreement over tariff policy, escalating tensions inside the GOP ahead of the next election cycle.
According to Daljoog News analysis, the move signals that loyalty to Trump’s trade agenda is becoming a defining test in Republican primaries, especially after a court ruling weakened the administration’s tariff framework.
The reversal comes months after Trump first backed Hurd and just days after the Supreme Court struck down key elements of the president’s tariff policy, reshaping the political terrain for lawmakers who supported or opposed the measures.
What Happened?
In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Trump formally rescinded his endorsement of Hurd, citing what he described as insufficient support for his tariff strategy.
The president accused Hurd of failing to stand firmly behind trade measures he has repeatedly framed as essential to protecting American industry and countering foreign competition.
Hurd was one of six House Republicans who voted on February 11 to terminate tariffs imposed on Canada. The vote put him at odds with Trump, who had warned that GOP lawmakers opposing his trade agenda could face primary challenges.
Trump simultaneously endorsed Hurd’s Republican primary challenger, Hope Scheppelman. Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and former vice chair of the Colorado Republican Party, quickly welcomed the president’s backing and aligned herself closely with his economic message.
Hurd defended his vote following the Supreme Court decision that invalidated much of Trump’s tariff framework. He argued that while tariffs can serve strategic purposes, Congress must retain its constitutional role in shaping trade policy.
Hurd’s office has not publicly responded to the endorsement withdrawal.
Why This Matters
Endorsements from Trump remain highly influential in Republican primaries. In competitive districts, his backing can significantly shape fundraising, voter mobilization, and party alignment.
Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District has leaned Republican in recent cycles, but internal divisions could complicate the GOP’s path forward. A bruising primary may redirect resources and attention away from general election positioning.
More broadly, the dispute underscores a larger tension within the Republican Party: how aggressively to pursue tariff-driven trade policy. While Trump continues to champion tariffs as an economic shield, some GOP lawmakers have grown wary of their legal footing and long-term economic impact.
The timing also matters. The Supreme Court’s ruling against key tariff measures weakened the policy foundation just as Trump intensified political pressure on lawmakers to defend it.
What Analysts or Officials Are Saying
Republican strategists view the withdrawal of the endorsement as both a warning and a signal. It warns incumbents that deviations from Trump’s economic agenda may carry electoral consequences. It also signals that primary contests will likely serve as ideological battlegrounds over trade.
Scheppelman has criticized Hurd’s vote and aligned herself firmly with Trump’s position. Her messaging emphasizes restoring domestic manufacturing and resisting what she characterizes as judicial overreach.
Meanwhile, legal analysts note that the Supreme Court decision fundamentally reshaped the debate. The ruling curtailed executive authority over certain tariff mechanisms, effectively shifting leverage back toward Congress.
Democrats have largely framed the internal GOP dispute as evidence of party fragmentation, though their electoral strategy in the district remains unclear.
Political observers point to Trump’s history of withdrawing endorsements as a tactical move designed to reinforce loyalty. He previously pulled support from Mo Brooks during Alabama’s 2022 Senate race. He also distanced himself from Marjorie Taylor Greene after policy disagreements last year.
Daljoog News Analysis
This endorsement reversal is less about one House vote and more about party discipline.
Trump is reinforcing a clear standard: Republican lawmakers must not only support his agenda but also actively defend it during moments of legal and political stress.
Hurd attempted to strike a middle ground. He endorsed the goal of fair trade while asserting congressional authority over policy. That nuance may resonate with institutional conservatives but carries risks in a primary shaped by Trump’s base.
For Scheppelman, the endorsement offers immediate credibility and fundraising momentum. However, primary campaigns fueled by national disputes often localize poorly. Voters in Colorado’s 3rd District may weigh regional economic priorities differently than national trade narratives suggest.
There is also a structural layer to this fight. The Supreme Court ruling shifted the balance of power on tariffs, complicating Trump’s ability to present them as a straightforward executive tool. By escalating politically, he keeps tariffs central to the GOP identity debate.
If Trump continues using endorsements as leverage, Republican incumbents across the country may face similar calculations: align fully or risk a primary challenge.
What Happens Next
Attention now turns to the Republican primary in Colorado’s 3rd District. Fundraising reports and polling data will reveal how much weight Trump’s endorsement carries in the race.
Hurd must decide whether to recalibrate his trade messaging or double down on his institutional argument that Congress should lead tariff policy.
Scheppelman will likely build her campaign around economic nationalism and loyalty to Trump’s platform. Early endorsements from state-level GOP figures could signal whether party infrastructure aligns behind her.
Nationally, this episode may encourage additional primary challenges against Republicans who opposed Trump’s tariff policies. The issue could evolve into a litmus test for party unity heading into the broader election cycle.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has already altered the legal landscape. Now, the political aftershocks are reshaping Republican strategy — one endorsement at a time.
