Trump Endorses Congressman Who’s Been Missing For Months

President Donald Trump on Monday endorsed a New Jersey Republican Congressman for re-election who has missed more than 100 votes and has not been publicly seen for several months. 

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) is running unopposed in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District primary election on Tuesday. The Republican is seeking a third term in one of the country’s most competitive seats that could play a big role in shaping the balance of power in Washington in the upcoming midterm elections. In 2024, Kean won the district by about 24,000 votes. Going into the midterms, the Cook Political Report ranks the seat as a toss-up. 

In a Monday night Truth Social post, Trump hailed Kean as a “Great Representative.”   

“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,” he said. 

Kean hasn’t cast a vote in Congress since March 5, The Daily Wire previously reported. Still, he recently co-sponsored a bill requiring the federal government to provide states with clear guidance on whether Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover early-detection screenings for preeclampsia.

In April, the congressman broke his silence and revealed he was addressing a “personal medical issue.” 

“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,” he said in a statement. “I take my responsibilities seriously and have a strong record of showing up and delivering, which makes this absence all the more difficult.” 

pic.twitter.com/4bnkizkBL5

— Tom Kean (@KeanForCongress) April 27, 2026

Kean has resisted calls to disclose his medical condition. On May 21, he told the New Jersey Globe that he’s “on the road to a full recovery” and will “return to voting and to the campaign trail” in the next few weeks.

The 57-year-old described his prognosis as “positive” and did not expect the medical issue to affect his cognitive health, he told the local outlet.  

The congressman has no publicly scheduled events, according to his campaign website. 

Kean’s extended and unexplained absence is complicating the math for House Speaker Mike Johnson’s razor-thin majority and has mystified some of his Republican colleagues. 

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) told NJ Spotlight News, “Nobody’s covering up. We just haven’t heard a word,” and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said, “We’ve both reached out. Don’t know.”

Van Drew further lamented that it’s been “complete radio silence.”

It remains unclear whether Kean will address the media — or his voters — after securing the Republican nomination for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday night.