Trump offers full support for embattled Republican Roy Moore
Roy Moore
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump formally endorsed  embattled Republican Roy Moore  in the Alabama Senate race on Monday  looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate to argue that  Moore 's vote is needed in Congress.
Trump tweeted early Monday that "Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need  Republican Roy Moore  to win in Alabama."
Trump also spoke with  Moore  by phone. White House Spokesman Raj Shah said the two discussed the state of the Alabama Senate race and that the president "endorsed Judge  Moore 's campaign."
It was Trump's strongest show of support for  Moore  since allegations surfaced that the candidate had sexually assaulted teenage girls decades ago  including one who said he molested  her  when  she  was 14 and he was in his 30s. Many national Republicans have called on  Moore  to step aside in the wake of multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Shortly after Trump's tweet   Moore  responded on Twitter: "Thankful for President Trump's support. The America First agenda will #MAGA. Can't wait to help him #DrainTheSwamp."
Trump also had assailed  Moore 's Democratic rival Doug Jones  tweeting that "Putting a Pelosi/Schumer Liberal Puppet Jones into office in Alabama would hurt our great Republican Agenda of low on taxes  tough on crime  strong on military and borders...& so much more."
FILE - In this Nov. 28  2017  file photo  Alabama U.S. Senatorial candidate Doug Jones talks with the media after touring the Northport Medical Center  in Northport  Ala. Jones is the democratic candidate facing republican Roy Moore for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat in the Dec. 12 special election. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP  File)
Trump for weeks was silent after the allegations against  Moore  surfaced  and the White House has said  he  had no plans to make campaign appearances before the Dec. 12 election. But Trump in recent days has raised doubts about the allegations against  Moore   and he has agreed to headline a campaign-style rally in Pensacola  Florida — less than 20 miles from the Alabama border — just four days before the Alabama election.
And Trump tweeted of  Moore  on Monday: "We need his vote on stopping crime  illegal immigration  Border Wall  Military  Pro Life  V.A.  Judges 2nd Amendment and more. No to Jones  a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!"
Short said Trump's point is that "when allegations arise 38 years later  when  Roy Moore  has been a very public figure for those 38 years   he 's run multiple times statewide in Alabama  the people in Alabama have an opportunity to choose and make some decisions about  Roy Moore 's character. Putting all that together   he 's encouraging the people of Alabama to make the right decision."
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump formally endorsed  embattled Republican Roy Moore  in the Alabama Senate race on Monday  looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate to argue that  Moore 's vote is needed in Congress.
Trump tweeted early Monday that "Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need  [TGT]."
Trump also spoke with [TGT]by phone. White House Spokesman Raj Shah said the two discussed the state of the Alabama Senate race and that the president "endorsed Judge  [TGT] 's campaign."
It was Trump's strongest show of support for  [TGT]since allegations surfaced that the candidate had sexually assaulted teenage girls decades ago  including one who said he molested  [TGT]  when  [TGT]  was 14 and he was in his 30s. Many national Republicans have called on  Moore  to step aside in the wake of multiple sexual assault and harassment allegations.
Shortly after Trump's tweet   Moore  responded on Twitter: "Thankful for President Trump's support. The America First agenda will #MAGA. Can't wait to help him #DrainTheSwamp."
Trump also had assailed  Moore 's Democratic rival Doug Jones  tweeting that "Putting a Pelosi/Schumer Liberal Puppet Jones into office in Alabama would hurt our great Republican Agenda of low on taxes  tough on crime  strong on military and borders...& so much more."
FILE - In this Nov. 28  2017  file photo  Alabama U.S. Senatorial candidate Doug Jones talks with the media after touring the Northport Medical Center  in Northport  Ala. Jones is the democratic candidate facing republican Roy Moore for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat in the Dec. 12 special election. (Vasha Hunt/AL.com via AP  File)
Trump for weeks was silent after the allegations against  Moore  surfaced  and the White House has said  he  had no plans to make campaign appearances before the Dec. 12 election. But Trump in recent days has raised doubts about the allegations against  Moore   and he has agreed to headline a campaign-style rally in Pensacola  Florida — less than 20 miles from the Alabama border — just four days before the Alabama election.
And Trump tweeted of  Moore  on Monday: "We need his vote on stopping crime  illegal immigration  Border Wall  Military  Pro Life  V.A.  Judges 2nd Amendment and more. No to Jones  a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!"
Short said Trump's point is that "when allegations arise 38 years later  when  Roy Moore  has been a very public figure for those 38 years   he 's run multiple times statewide in Alabama  the people in Alabama have an opportunity to choose and make some decisions about  Roy Moore 's character. Putting all that together   he 's encouraging the people of Alabama to make the right decision."