Trump reverses course in Colorado House race, backing GOP incumbent he once scorned
President Donald Trump made a stunning reversal Friday by again backing a Colorado House Republican for reelection a month after he publicly scorned him and endorsed his opponent.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump said he would no longer back Hope Scheppelman's bid in the Republican primary for Rep. Jeff Hurd's seat in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, after she accepted an offer to join his administration.
"Together with them, 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," he said in his social media post.
In February, Trump withdrew his endorsement of Hurd, lashing out against him in a social media post after he voted to rebuke the president's tariffs on Canada.
"Hurd is one of a small number of Legislators who have let me and our Country down," Trump said in the February social media post.
In Friday's announcement, the president changed his mind.
"Every true MAGA supporter and Republican, if they truly care about saving our Country, will do everything in their power to unify together, and defeat the Crazed Radical Left Democrats this November," he said.
The district has been red since 2011, and has traditionally been seen as a strong Republican area.
Trump said he spoke with Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and nurse, and her husband, about his decision and offered both of them positions in his administration in a "capacity to be determined."
"Hope and Steven are wonderful and patriotic Veterans of our U.S. Navy, and loyal supporters of our Historic MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Movement," Trump said in the post.
Hurd thanked Trump for the endorsement in an X post Friday.
"The President and I share the same goals: securing the border, American energy dominance, and helping working families," he said.
Scheppelman, whose social media pages feature a picture of her and Trump posing with thumbs-up signs, said in a statement on X that she would suspend her campaign given Trump's request.
She said Hurd "now has the opportunity to correct his naive voting record and support President Trump, and our slim Republican majority in the U.S. House, in our shared battle to save the country we love."
"If he does not, I will run again in 2028 and defeat [Hurd] in order to give the citizens of Colorado’s 3rd district, and all of America, the representation we deserve," Scheppelman added.
Trump's involvement a welcome development for House Republicans and Speaker Mike Johnson protecting a historically small majority this fall.
By backing Hurd, the GOP avoids another contentious primary in a long red district, as the incumbent is running unopposed.
Alex Kelloff, a Democratic candidate running for the House seat, responded to the president's announcement Friday on X.
"Trump is worried we’re going to win this seat, a testament to all the work our campaign has been doing the last 11 months," he said.
The Colorado primary is set for June 30.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.
