ABCNews.com(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump spoke publicly about embattled Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore for the first time Tuesday, saying of the Republican accused of multiple acts of sexual misconduct: “You have to listen to him also” and “he totally denies it.”
The president stopped short of fully endorsing Moore, whose candidacy and two terms as Alabama Supreme Court attracted controversy even before the sexual impropriety allegations, but attacked Moore’s opponent, Democrat Doug Jones, as he spoke to reporters on the White House South Lawn as he left Washington, D.C., to travel to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We don’t need a liberal person in there,” said Trump, adding, “Jones: I’ve looked at his record, it’s terrible on crime. It’s terrible on the border. It’s terrible on the military.”
The White House earlier said that the president believed that “the people of Alabama should make the decision on who their senator should be,” but added that “if the allegations are true,” Trump felt Moore should step aside.
From the South Lawn, Trump called attention to the position Moore has taken since the accusations emerged two weeks ago.
“Let me just tell you, Roy Moore denies it. That’s all I can say. He denies it. By the way, he totally denies it,” Trump said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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