Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney should be hired, not fired as the Republican nominee, Donald Trump says.

The real estate mogul and reality TV star gave Romney his endorsement Thursday, surprising many political analysts who expected a Newt Gingrich endorsement.

Trump said Gingrich's campaign must have put out the idea he'd be endorsing the former House Speaker, claiming he had never said he would endorse Gingrich.

President Obama's supporters wasted no time drawing comparisons between the two men.

"Why would Trump Endorse Romney?" blared the headline of a statement released by the Democratic National Committee. "Perhaps because they Both Like Firing People!"

Trump said Romney's debating skills and views on China were his primary reasons for giving the GOP frontrunner his endorsement.

"You look at what's going on with China, you look at what's going on with the other OPEC nations and how they are absolutely destroying this country, and he's the only one who talks about it," Trump said. "So that was very important to me. I thought he did very well in the debates, that was very important.... I think if he debates that well, I don't think Obama will fare well against him."

Romney received Trump's endorsement ahead of the Nevada caucus, which will be held Saturday.