Trump Pulls Endorsement of Colorado Rep. Hurd After Tariff Vote Ahead of State of Union
Updated (7 articles)
State of the Union Set for Feb 24 with Nationwide Broadcast President Donald Trump will address Congress on Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, fulfilling the constitutional reporting requirement [1][2][3][5]. The speech will air live on all major television networks and be streamed for free via platforms such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and the stations’ own apps [1][2]. GOP strategists describe the address as a rehearsal for the party’s narrative heading into the November midterm elections [1][2][5].
Supreme Court Strikes Down Majority of Trump’s Emergency Tariffs 6‑3 Supreme Court ruling this week declared that the president exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, nullifying most of the sweeping tariffs he imposed [1][2][4][5][6][7]. Justice Neil Gorsuch warned that unchecked executive power threatens the constitutional separation of powers [3][4]. Despite the decision, Trump posted on Truth Social that he will pursue a new round of tariffs against countries he says “play games” with the United States [4][7].
Polls Show Trump’s Approval at Historic Lows Ahead of Midterms Recent CNN polling places overall presidential approval at 36% and just 26% among independents, the lowest independent rating on record [4]. An AP‑NORC survey finds only 39% of adults approve of Trump’s economic leadership and 38% support his immigration stance, reflecting concerns over rising costs and recent violent protests [5][6]. These numbers underscore the GOP’s vulnerability as the State of the Union becomes a key platform to sway undecided voters [1][2][4].
Trump Withdraws Endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd Over Tariff Vote On Feb 21, Trump announced on Truth Social that he is revoking his October 2025 endorsement of Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd after Hurd voted for H.J.Res.72, a resolution targeting the president’s emergency tariff authority [7]. The former endorsement covered 28 House incumbents; Hurd’s vote placed him among six Republicans who supported repealing the tariffs on Canada [7]. Trump replaced Hurd with Navy veteran Hope Scheppelman as his endorsed candidate for the June 30 GOP primary and warned that Republicans who oppose his trade agenda will face political consequences [7].
Never‑Trump Republicans Decry Trumpism as Existential Democratic Threat The Principles First summit in National Harbor, Maryland, held Feb 22, was half‑empty and featured no current Republican elected officials [6]. Speakers including former congressman Joe Walsh and commentator Bill Kristol labeled Trumpism an authoritarian‑embracing cult and an existential threat to democracy [6]. The summit also highlighted the Supreme Court’s recent overturn of Trump’s tariff authority and cited AP‑NORC data showing one‑in‑four Republicans disapprove of Trump’s performance [6].
Sources
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1.
WBNS: President Trump’s State of the Union Set for 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 24 – Details the Feb 24 schedule, nationwide broadcast options, midterm messaging test, poll vulnerability, recent Supreme Court tariff limitation, and Iran strike threats .
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King5: President Trump's State of the Union Scheduled for Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. ET – Mirrors WBNS on timing, streaming platforms, GOP midterm narrative, polling doubts, tariff ruling, and Iran nuclear strike concerns .
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AP: Trump’s State of the Union to a Transformed Nation – Describes the “transformed nation,” first‑year policy overhauls, deadly protests, legislation on taxes and homeland security, Gorsuch’s constitutional warning, and the SAVE America voting‑ID showdown .
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CNN: Trump’s State of the Union faces low approval and mounting crises – Reports 36% overall approval, 26% independent rating, multiple setbacks (Iran, Epstein, DHS shutdown), reliance on tax‑cut “big, beautiful bill,” and Trump’s vow to rebuild a harsher trade regime .
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AP: Trump’s State of the Union poised as midterm test run – Emphasizes the address as a rehearsal for November, low economic and immigration approval, Supreme Court curtailing tariffs, economic focus by strategists and VP Vance, and anticipated Democratic protests .
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AP: Never Trump Republicans warn of “existential threat” at half‑empty summit – Covers the sparsely attended summit, speakers’ condemnation of Trumpism, White House dismissal of critics, Supreme Court overturn of tariffs, polling showing Republican disapproval, and Democratic electoral optimism .
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Newsweek: Trump Withdraws Endorsement of Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd Over Tariff Vote – Reports the endorsement withdrawal after Hurd’s vote on H.J.Res.72, replacement with Hope Scheppelman, rarity of Trump rescinding endorsements, and his warning to Republicans opposing his tariffs .
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Timeline
Mar 2022 – Trump rescinds his endorsement of Alabama Senate candidate Mo Brooks after Brooks urges voters to move past the 2020 election, marking the first time the former president withdraws support from a lawmaker [2].
Oct 2025 – Trump issues a blanket endorsement of Colorado Rep. Jeff Hurd as part of a 28‑member batch of House incumbents he backs for the 2026 elections [2].
Early Feb 2026 – Rep. Jeff Hurd joins six Republicans in voting for H.J.Res. 72, a resolution to repeal emergency tariffs on Canada, arguing that the tariffs violate the Constitution and harm his district’s agriculture and steel‑rail sectors [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – The Supreme Court issues a 6‑3 ruling that the president exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, striking down most of Trump’s emergency tariffs and curbing a key tool of his trade policy [2][5].
Feb 21, 2026 – Trump withdraws his October 2025 endorsement of Rep. Jeff Hurd on Truth Social, labeling Hurd a “RINO” and warning that Republicans who oppose his tariffs will face “steep political costs” [2].
Feb 22, 2026 – The sixth annual Principles First “Never Trump” summit convenes in National Harbor, Maryland, with only half the 750 chairs filled and no current GOP office‑holders; speakers such as Bill Kristol call Trump and his congressional allies “an existential threat” to democracy, while White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismisses the critics as “a bunch of deranged has‑been politicians” [5].
Feb 23, 2026 – GOP strategists frame the upcoming State of the Union as a “test run” for the November midterm elections, noting that recent AP‑NORC polls show only 39 % of adults approve of Trump’s economic leadership and 38 % back his immigration stance [4][6].
Feb 23, 2026 – Trump’s campaign announces the State of the Union will air at 9 p.m. ET on Feb. 24, positioning the speech as a platform to showcase the “big, beautiful bill” tax cuts and to counter low public approval (36 % overall, 26 % among independents) [1][6][7].
Feb 24, 2026 – Trump delivers the State of the Union to a “transformed nation,” emphasizing sweeping tax‑cut provisions, a $170 billion Homeland Security package, and pledging harsher trade duties on countries that “play games,” while Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch warns that unchecked executive power “threatens the nation’s system of separated powers” [1][3].
Feb 24, 2026 – Amid the address, Trump hints at possible new military strikes against Iran, keeping foreign‑policy tensions in the background of his domestic agenda [1][6][7].
June 30, 2026 – Hope Scheppelman, a Navy veteran and critical‑care nurse practitioner, appears on the ballot as Trump’s endorsed Republican candidate for Colorado’s 3rd District, replacing the withdrawn endorsement of Jeff Hurd [2].
Nov 2026 – The midterm elections loom as a decisive test of the GOP’s messaging, with Democrats projected by some summit speakers to be “almost certain to win the House” and potentially the Senate and 2028 presidency [5].
External resources (2 links)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiQt_5Q07iI (cited 1 times)