President Donald Trump will not stump for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, a White House official confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.
The decision comes after Trump last week did not rule out the possibility of traveling to Alabama to campaign on behalf of the embattled candidate ahead of the Dec. 12 special election against Democratic opponent Doug Jones.
Last Tuesday, Trump told reporters he would “be letting you know next week” whether or not he stump for Moore. All the while reiterating the need for someone other than Jones. “But I can tell you, you don’t need somebody who’s soft on crime, like Jones,” Trump added.
Monday’s announcement confirms he will stay in Washington, and physically out of the special election. But that doesn’t mean Trump is altogether staying out of the race.
Trump took to Twitter on Sunday morning to slam Jones.
“The last thing we need in Alabama and the U.S. Senate is a Schumer/Pelosi puppet who is WEAK on Crime, WEAK on the Border, Bad for our Military and our great Vets, Bad for our 2nd Amendment, AND WANTS TO RAISES TAXES TO THE SKY. Jones would be a disaster!” Trump wrote.
The last thing we need in Alabama and the U.S. Senate is a Schumer/Pelosi puppet who is WEAK on Crime, WEAK on the Border, Bad for our Military and our great Vets, Bad for our 2nd Amendment, AND WANTS TO RAISES TAXES TO THE SKY. Jones would be a disaster!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2017
He later added, “I endorsed Luther Strange in the Alabama Primary. He shot way up in the polls but it wasn’t enough. Can’t let Schumer/Pelosi win this race. Liberal Jones would be BAD!”
I endorsed Luther Strange in the Alabama Primary. He shot way up in the polls but it wasn’t enough. Can’t let Schumer/Pelosi win this race. Liberal Jones would be BAD!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2017
Moore has been under fire since The Washington Post published an explosive report on Nov. 9 with the accounts of four women who claim he sexually pursued them when he was in his 30s and they were in their teens. Since that time, a total of nine women have levied accusations against Moore. The news has caused rapid fallout from dozens within the Republican Party who have called on him to withdraw his name from next month’s special election if the allegations are true.
The White House did not respond to Alabama Today for further comment.
