> It's not clear to me how this is an endorsement of Trump

Did you read the speech???? It's right there:

"Tonight I urge all of my fellow Americans to stand up and vote for Donald Trump."

How could you possibly think that's not an endorsement?

Where in that speech does he mention the New Deal, or even allude to it?

Are you sure you're not confusing the New Deal with something else?

When people hear ambiguous things that make them happy, they often imagine that whoever they deem the hero at the moment agrees with them on everything and would do exactly what they would do, regardless of what the truth might be.

I would be very surprised if Thiel (who professes to be a libertarian) were much of a fan of the New Deal.

If he's a libertarian, one wonders whether his endorsement of a candidate who is a protectionist and for a strong central government is sincere.