The race for the US Senate seat Roy Blunt (R-MO) is vacating at the end of the year has been a hot one — particularly for the Republicans. With Missouri being a red state these days, the GOP should hold onto the seat (although it’s considered “likely” for Republicans, rather than “safe”).

One of the big questions regarding the race has been whether Donald Trump will endorse before the August 2nd primary. The top-tier candidates, which include Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Governor Eric Greitens, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, and Congressman Billy Long, have all reportedly courted that endorsement.

While Trump hasn’t announced his pick, over the weekend, he did announce who he wouldn’t be endorsing — Congresswoman Hartzler:

While Hartzler has sought Trump’s endorsement in a tight Republican primary, the former president said in a post on the social media app Truth Social Friday night that voters could “forget” about backing Hartzler.

“You can forget about Vicky Hartzler for Senate from the Great State of Missouri,” Trump said on the platform.

Trump added:

“She called me this morning asking for my endorsement, much as she has on many other occasions,” Trump wrote. “I was anything but positive in that I don’t think she has what it takes to take on the Radical Left Democrats, together with their partner in the destruction of our Country, the Fake News Media and, of course, the deceptive & foolish RINOs.”

Trump says he won’t endorse @VickyHartzlerMO, calls @EricGreitens ‘smart’ and ‘tough’ #moleg #mogov #mosen via @J_Hancock https://t.co/eKj7PNJ4vI

— Missouri Independent (@MO_Independent) July 9, 2022

This despite the fact that Missouri’s soon-to-be senior Senator, Josh Hawley, has endorsed Hartzler.

In response, Hartzler’s campaign issued a statement to the Missouri Independent, asserting the “endorsement that counts is the endorsement of the Missouri people who know I am one of them and have been fighting for them.”

For his part, Eric Schmitt has been positioning himself as a fighter, ready to take on the D.C. Swamp.

Incompetent, corrupt and authoritarian. That’s Joe Biden.

I’m going to DC to fight for working people, for freedom and bring back President Trump’s America First agenda.

— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) July 11, 2022

The Greitens camp was quick to seize on the announcement, with Kimberly Guilfoyle (fiancée of Don, Jr., and national co-chair of Greitens’ campaign) tweeting:

Only one Missouri Senate candidate has the courage & brains to take on the Radical Left, the Fake News Media, and the RINOs.

That candidate is Ultra-MAGA, @EricGreitens.https://t.co/UkzYZUKTgv

— Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) July 10, 2022

While President Trump has called Greitens “smart” and “tough,” he’s also acknowledged there are some drawbacks.

Later, during an appearance on the pro-Trump OAN TV network, Trump was urged by interviewer ​​Chanel Rion to throw his weight behind Greitens because he is only candidate in the primary to openly condemn Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“He’s the one the Democrats legitimately want to run against,” Trump said, before later adding: “Eric is tough and he’s smart. A little controversial, but I’ve endorsed controversial people before. So we’ll see what happens.”

There’s a reason the Democrats “legitimately want to run against” Greitens. In addition to the significant baggage that accompanied his resignation and continues to swirl regarding his ongoing custody battle, the polling shows the top Democratic candidates fare better head-to-head against Greitens than against Schmitt or Hartzler.

Trump appears to be familiar with these issues — whether that will ultimately influence his decision to endorse remains to be seen.