President Donald Trump appears to have filled out hatch for former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
Trump now says that if Sununu runs for the Senate in 2026 for the seat currently held by Democrat Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, his former antagonist, will earn him full support.
Sununu, who completed his fourth and final term at Turning Swing State New Hampshire in January in January, told Fox News Digital in an interview last month that he aimed to make decisions about the 2026 campaign in the “next weeks.”
He emphasized that if he decides to bid in the Senate, “there is no doubt there is a president’s support.”
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President Donald Trump speaks to media members aboard Air Force 1 while flying to a joint base in Andrews, Maryland on April 6, 2025 (Reuters/Kent Nishimura)
Trump revealed that the two politicians had recently met at the White House when they were asked by reporters about Sanne when they flew to Washington, D.C. on Sunday night in Air Force 1.
“I told him – he came to my office, he came to the oval office, and [I] Meet Chris Sununu and I will fully support him. I hope he runs,” Trump said. “He was very kind to me last year or so. I think he’ll win that spot.”
Sununu supported Trump in the 2016 general election, and once again he didn’t play for reelection in 2020. The then governor had strong partnerships with the Trump White House, including a close relationship with then-President Wies Mike Pence.
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However, Sununu opposed Trump’s unproven claim that the 2020 presidential election was “integrated” and “stolen.” He also began to say in early 2021 that GOP is bigger than one person.
Sununu has intensified his criticism of the former president in numerous nationwide interviews about the cable news network and Sunday’s talk show. Additionally, Sununu has begun to ponder the 2024 White House’s run.
New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu supports former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley at a campaign event held on December 12, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire.
However, he ended up becoming the top agent of South Carolina Governor Nicky Haley in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Haley became Trump’s ultimate rival in the nomination race.
Trump occasionally fired up with Sununu and called him a “spoiled brat” and a “nasty guy.”
However, after Trump won the 2024 GOP nomination, Sununu said he would vote for the party’s presidential candidate.
What Sununu told Fox News about his chances of running for the Senate
Earlier this year, Sununu said in a digital interview with Fox News, “Donald Trump is the party head, he is the voice of the Republican Party, and I think he’s doing a pretty good job in his first few months.”
Republicans are aiming to turn blue to red when it comes to running the Senate of a potential 2026 senator. They hope to expand their current 53-47 majority in Chamber last month.
Sununu, who was elected and re-elected for four consecutive two-year terms as governor, touted, “I can definitely win.”
New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu was interviewed by Fox News Digital in his last day at the Capitol Building in Concord, New Hampshire on January 8, 2025. (Fox News – Paulsteinhauser)
The former governor’s comments in a recent interview were last year’s switch, which he repeatedly said he would not run for the Senate in 2026.
Four years ago, Sununu expressed interest in running for the Senate against his predecessor as Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan, who rose to be reelection in 2022. The popular governor was violently courted by National Republicans to challenge Hassan, but on November 9, 2021, Sununu announced that he would instead upset four prime ministers through the national prime minister.
He also criticized the Senate heavily. “They argue, they talk, they don’t do anything,” he said at the time.
Inaugurated in January with very positive approval and favorable ratings, Sununu is considered the best candidate to win a seat for the National Republicans. But he is not the only Republican in New Hampshire pondering Senate bids.
Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who narrowly lost to New Hampshire’s Shaheen in the 2014 election, is seriously considering his 2026 run.
The popular former GOP governor is heavily on potential bids in the Senate and whether Trump will support him
Former Senator Scott Brown was interviewed at Fox News Digital, held in Rye, New Hampshire on December 24, 2024. (Fox News – Paulsteinhauser)
Brown, who served as New Zealand’s US ambassador for four years in Trump’s first administration, has held several months of meetings with Republicans in New Hampshire and has met many times with GOP officials in the country’s capital.
Earlier this year, Brown met with political officials from the top Trump administration at the White House, sources told Fox News.
When asked about the president’s comments on Sununu, Brown told Fox News in a statement, “President Trump is the leader of the party and has earned the right to support those he supports. There is no way to run a Republican nomination against candidates he supports.”
Fourth term Rep. Chris Pappas officially launched his campaign last week in the race to nominate the Democratic Senate in New Hampshire.
Pappas said voters feel like “system equipment” after doing all 10 New Hampshire counties last month through all 10 New Hampshire counties.
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Rep. Chris Pappas announced his bid on Thursday, April 3, 2025 in Manchester, New Hampshire, to make it a successful retirement from Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. (AP photo/Robert F. Bucati)
“Thinking about the Social Security Agency closing in Littleton, and the dramatic cuts on Medicaid, all in the name of giving billionaires like Elon Musk a big tax credit,” he argued.
Pappas emphasized, “I’m angry because when you’re talking about public services you should focus on how you can help people, how you can make people’s lives better.”
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Pappas may not have all the Democratic Senate primary in New Hampshire himself.
A source close to Rep. Maggie Goodlander, another New Hampshire representative, said last month that the first term was considering a Senate run.
Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.
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