Donald Trump usually wants to be around those who are loyal to him. But that mindset is changing.
Because President Trump has teamed up with a former enemy in a shocking twist.
Trump and Sununu: From Foes to Friends with a Senate Bid in Sight
In a surprising twist of political fate, President Donald Trump seems to have patched things up with former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, a once-vocal critic within the Republican ranks. The two have come a long way from their days of trading barbs, with Trump now throwing his full support behind Sununu should he decide to run for the Senate in 2026.
The seat in question? It’s currently occupied by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who’s set to retire, leaving an opening Republicans are eager to claim.
Sununu, who wrapped up his fourth and final term as New Hampshire’s governor in January 2025, has been mulling over his next move. In a recent chat with Fox News Digital, he hinted at making a call on a 2026 Senate campaign soon, saying he’d decide in the “next few weeks.” He sounded confident about one thing: “I have no doubt I’d have the president’s support” if he takes the plunge.
Trump confirmed this newfound alliance during a flight to Washington, D.C., on Sunday night aboard Air Force One. Speaking to reporters, he revealed that he and Sununu had a recent sit-down at the White House.
“I told him — He came to my office, came to the Oval Office, and [I] met with Chris Sununu, and I support him fully. I hope he runs,” Trump stated. “He’s been very nice to me over the last year or so, but no, I hope he runs. I think he’ll win that seat.”
The road to this truce hasn’t been smooth. Sununu stood by Trump in the 2016 election and again in 2020, even forging a solid working bond with then-Vice President Mike Pence. But cracks appeared when Sununu dismissed Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” and “stolen.”
By early 2021, he was signaling that the Republican Party was bigger than any single figure—a subtle jab at Trump. His criticism grew louder on cable news and Sunday talk shows, where he argued Trump’s political baggage made a White House comeback unlikely.
Sununu even flirted with his own 2024 presidential run before stepping back and throwing his weight behind Nikki Haley, Trump’s last rival in that year’s GOP primary.
Trump didn’t take it lying down, hitting back by calling Sununu a “spoiled brat” and a “nasty guy.” Yet, once Trump secured the 2024 nomination, Sununu softened his stance, pledging to vote for the party’s pick. Earlier this year, he told Fox News Digital, “Donald Trump is the head of the party, and he’s the voice of the Republican Party, and I got to say, I think he’s doing a pretty darn good job in the first couple months.”
Now, with the 2026 Senate race on the horizon, Sununu is keeping his options open. Republicans see the New Hampshire seat as a prime chance to flip a Democratic stronghold and bolster their slim 53-47 Senate edge. Sununu told Fox News Digital last month that while “the door’s open” to running, “it’s not open a lot, to be honest.” Still, the four-term governor, who boasts a strong track record in the swing state, is certain of one thing: “I have no doubt I can win.”
This marks a shift from last year, when Sununu repeatedly ruled out a 2026 Senate bid. Back in 2021, he’d also passed on challenging then-Senator Maggie Hassan in 2022, despite heavy recruiting from national Republicans. Instead, he ran for another term as governor, leaving some in Washington frustrated. At the time, he didn’t mince words about the Senate, saying, “They debate and talk and nothing gets done.”
Sununu’s not the only Republican eyeing the prize. Former Senator Scott Brown, who lost narrowly to Shaheen in 2014 after serving as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand, is also in the mix. Brown has been meeting with GOP leaders in New Hampshire and D.C., including Trump administration officials earlier this year.
When asked about Trump’s backing of Sununu, Brown told Fox News, “President Trump is the leader of the party, and he has earned the right to endorse whoever he supports. There is no path to a Republican nomination running against President Trump-backed candidates.”
On the Democratic side, four-term Representative Chris Pappas kicked off his campaign last week, drawing on a listening tour across New Hampshire’s ten counties. He’s framing his bid around frustration with a “rigged” system, pointing to cuts in Social Security and Medicaid under Trump’s administration—policies tied to billionaire Elon Musk’s influence.
“I do get angry,” Pappas said, “because when you’re talking about public service, you should be focused on how you can help people, how you can make people’s lives better.” He might face competition in the primary, though, as sources say first-term Representative Maggie Goodlander is weighing her own Senate run.
With Sununu’s high approval ratings from his gubernatorial days and Trump’s blessing, national Republicans view him as their top shot at turning New Hampshire red. But as the field takes shape, this Senate race promises to be a battleground worth watching.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
