President Donald Trump has recently endorsed South Dakota GOP Senator Mike Rounds for re-election, marking a significant shift from his previous stance. In 2022, Trump had publicly criticized Rounds and vowed never to endorse him again, following Rounds’ comments on the 2020 election, which Trump claimed was ‘fraudulent.’ However, in a recent Truth Social post, Trump has reversed his position, calling Rounds an ‘America First Patriot’ and reaffirming his full endorsement for the senator’s re-election.
This reversal has sparked discussions within the Republican Party, as Rounds has been vocal about his support for policies that align with certain conservative economic and foreign policy positions, such as defending American innovation from alleged intellectual property theft from China. Rounds’ previous comments on the 2020 election have also drawn criticism from some within the party, but they have also bolstered his base among conservative constituents.
Rounds has responded to Trump’s endorsement positively, expressing his intention to work with the former president to make America ‘even better.’ The White House, however, has not yet commented on the matter, as Fox News Digital sought a response but received none by the time of publication. This endorsement is seen as an indicator of the evolving dynamics within the GOP, where Trump’s influence, though diminished, continues to shape political alignments and support for key candidates.