President Donald Trump is being criticized by members of his own party for not listening to his daughter, Ivanka Trump, when she said that accused pedophile Roy Moore is fated for ‘a special place in hell.’
The president on Tuesday congratulated Democrat Doug Jones on a ‘hard fought’ win in Alabama, adding Republicans will have ‘another shot’ at the Senate seat.
Trump backed Moore, the Republican, in the race, despite the multiple allegations of sexual impropriety against Moore. Trump cited the need for GOP votes on his legislative agenda.
Trump says on Twitter, ‘The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win.’
Jones’ victory will narrow the Senate Republican majority to 51-49. His term lasts until January 2021.
Jones says his victory over Republican Roy Moore in Tuesday’s special election marks a moment for national unity.
‘I have always believed that the people of Alabama have more in common than divides us,’ Moore tells supporters at his campaign victory rally.
‘We have shown the country the way that we can be.’
Politically, Tuesday’s night’s shocking result is a huge setback for Trump – particularly since he gave a full-throated endorsement to Moore despite many Republicans backing away.
President Donald Trump has congratulated Democrat Doug Jones (above) on a ‘hard fought’ win in Alabama, adding Republicans will have ‘another shot’ at the Senate seat
The defeat of Moore is also a major blow to Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and Trump ally who blasted Republicans for expressing reservations about the candidate during the race.
Bannon channeled Ivanka Trump as he knocked establishment enemies at a rally supporting Alabama Senate hopeful Roy Moore Monday evening.
‘Mitch McConnell and Senator Shelby, and Condi Rice and all that, Little Bobby Corker, all the establishment out there, all that establishment every day, that doesn’t have Trump’s back at all,’ Bannon said, listing members of the Republican Party who wouldn’t back Moore.
‘There’s a special place in hell for Republicans who should know better,’ Bannon said.
Bannon’s phrasing had a similar ring to what Ivanka Trump said when she heard the teen predator allegations against Moore, which has tripped up the Republican’s Senate bid in the bright red state ever since.
‘There’s a special place in hell for in hell for people who prey on children,’ the first daughter, and a top adviser to the president, said then.
It appeared that Trump erred in picking Bannon over his the advice of his daughter.
In response to the first daughter’s comment about Moore, Trump asked several aides in the Oval Office, ‘Do you believe this?’ according to The New York Times.
Some Republicans on Twitter criticized the president for going with Bannon over Ivanka.
‘GOP needs more of Ivanka and less of Bannon and Moore!’ tweeted Jason Bellows, a Virginia Republican.
‘Party is on a path to Waterloo! Our party needs new leadership!’
‘I am Republican and this is making me sick!!!’ tweeted a GOP supporter.
‘What are we as American people allowing? Where is the morals in this country?
‘This country is so divided even more by Trump – you and Bannon are embarrassing this country.’
This is the second time in recent months that the president has badly miscalculated a race in Alabama.
During the Republican primary, Trump backed Luther Strange, the incumbent who was picked to assume Jeff Sessions’ Senate seat after the longtime senator became attorney general.
Moore defeated Strange, handing Trump an embarrassing defeat.
On Tuesday, Trump once again backed a losing candidate – watching as Moore went down in defeat to Jones.