President Trump has endorsed South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds (R) for reelection to his seat next year despite his calling Rounds a “jerk” years earlier and vowing not to support him in the future. 

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that Rounds is an “incredibly strong advocate” for South Dakota, while also mentioning that he carried the state comfortably in each of his three presidential contests in 2016, 2020 and 2024. 

“An America First Patriot, Mike is fighting tirelessly to Advance the Great Values of the Mount Rushmore State, Champion our Farmers and Ranchers, Strengthen the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Ensure American Energy DOMINANCE, Help Secure our already Highly Secure Border, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump said. 

“Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he continued. 

The endorsement comes about three years after Trump slammed Rounds in 2022 over the senator’s comments calling the 2020 presidential election “fair.” 

“The only reason he did this is because he got my endorsement and easily won his state in 2020, so now he thinks he has time, and those are the only ones, the weak, who will break away,” Trump said at the time. “Even though his election will not be coming up for five years, I will never endorse this jerk again.” 

With Trump’s endorsement, Rounds will be a clear favorite to win reelection next year in the solidly conservative-leaning state. 

Rounds told reporters that he got a call about Trump’s endorsement “out of the blue” but appreciates Trump’s support. He hasn’t formally announced that he’s running for reelection but is planning to. 

“I really appreciate the very gracious endorsement that he offered today, and like I told him, I said I haven’t publicly announced yet, but I’m putting everything together to be able to do that in the near future,” he said. 

Trump has regularly threatened to withhold his endorsement from or back primary challengers to lawmakers who openly defy him, such as those who voted to impeach him following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Rounds raised concerns about how Trump’s rescissions package would impact tribal public media outlets, but he ultimately voted for it after telling reporters that he secured commitments from the White House to fund the stations by other means.

Al Weaver contributed.