President Donald Trump on Monday threw his support behind Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), even as the two-term congressman remains largely absent from Washington and the campaign trail amid an ongoing health-related disappearance that has fueled speculation across New Jersey’s most competitive House district.
Ahead of Tuesday’s Republican primary in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, Trump issued a glowing endorsement of Kean, who is running unopposed for renomination despite not casting a vote in Congress since March 5.
On Truth Social, Trump praised Kean as a “Great Representative” and a key ally in advancing the administration’s agenda.
“A Tremendous Advocate of our America First Agenda, Tom is working tirelessly to Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Champion Small Business, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Support our Brave Military and Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote.
In offering his backing, Trump added: “GET OUT AND VOTE FOR TOM — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The endorsement comes as Kean remains largely out of public view. The congressman has not appeared for votes in the House for nearly three months and has maintained only a limited public presence while recovering from what he has described as a serious but temporary medical condition.
In late April, Kean acknowledged for the first time that he was dealing with a “personal medical issue,” though he declined to provide details about the illness.
“My doctors continue to assure me that my recovery will be complete and that I will be back to the job I love very soon,” Kean said in a statement at the time. “I expect to return to a full schedule and be at 100 percent.”
Questions about Kean’s absence have intensified in recent weeks as one of the nation’s most closely watched House races begins to take shape. While the congressman has remained out of the spotlight, his official congressional and campaign social media accounts have continued posting regularly, creating an unusual situation in which voters have heard from the congressman online but rarely seen him in person.
Kean told the New Jersey Globe on May 21 that he expected to return to Washington and resume campaigning “in the next couple of weeks.”
He also sought to reassure constituents about his long-term outlook.
“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” Kean told the outlet. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.”
Additional reassurance came from Kean’s father, former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean Sr., who told CNN in mid-May that his son is recovering from a serious but temporary illness.
Despite his continued absence, Kean’s campaign has remained active. Following Trump’s endorsement Monday, Kean thanked the president in a post on X and encouraged New Jersey Republicans to participate in the primary.
The timing is significant because New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District is expected to be one of the most competitive House battlegrounds in the country this year.
While Kean faces no Republican opposition, four Democrats — Rebecca Bennett, Michael Roth, Tina Shah, and Brian Varela — are competing for the chance to challenge him in November.
National Democrats view the district as one of their best pickup opportunities as they seek to regain control of the House. Republicans, meanwhile, are counting on Kean to defend a seat that could prove critical to preserving the GOP’s narrow majority.
Kean first won the district in 2022, defeating Democrat Tom Malinowski by just 2.8 percentage points. He secured reelection in 2024 by a somewhat wider 5.4-point margin against Democrat Sue Altman.
The Cook Political Report currently rates the race a “Toss Up,” placing it among just 18 House contests nationwide with that designation. Fourteen of those highly competitive seats are currently held by Republicans, underscoring the stakes for both parties heading into November.
For now, Trump’s endorsement provides Kean with a high-profile show of support at a moment when many voters are still waiting for the congressman to fully reemerge from the months-long absence that has become one of the most closely watched political stories in New Jersey.
