Mainstream media journalists on Twitter Tuesday quickly looked to blame President Trump for Republican Judge Roy Moore’s in the Alabama Senate race — a narrative likely to become the next mainstream media talking point.
While some journalists and commentators took aim at Breitbart News Executive Chairman and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon for his backing of Moore, others also directed their fire at President Trump.
NBC’s Chuck Todd quickly fired off a tweet highlighting that Trump was 0-2 when it came to backing candidates in the Alabama race. Trump had backed Sen. Luther Strange (R-AL) in the Republican primary.
It’s not easy to go 0-2 in the same race with two different candidates but @realDonaldTrump just pulled that off. He has Bannon to thank for that 2nd loss
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) December 13, 2017
McKay Coppins at the Atlantic appeared to mock Moore supporters for singing hymns, and also doubled down on the criticism of Trump — despite the fact that Trump largely stayed out of the race itself, and backed Moore late in the race.
https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/940795568988749826
https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/940799350376140801
The Guardian’s Ben Jacobs also noted Trump has backed a losing candidate twice in Alabama, while CNBC’s John Harwood described Trump as a “giant anvil” on the backs of Republicans.
Trump has now lost two consecutive Senate races in Alabama
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 13, 2017
it’s now pretty clear that Trump is a giant anvil on the backs of Republican candidates
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 13, 2017
At around the same time, the Washington Post‘s Philip Bump was tweeting similar thoughts, noting that Trump had “struck out” twice in a deep-red state.
Trump tried to get his candidate elected in the primary and the general in a deeply Republican state and struck out.
— Philip Bump (@pbump) December 13, 2017
Others were apparently disappointed by President Trump’s mostly magnanimous tweet congratulating Jones on his victory. CNN’s Maeve Reston said she found Trump’s fairly bland tweet “confusing” and predicted theatrics come Wednesday morning.
I’m assuming the real Donald Trump will emerge on Twitter tomorrow morning. Because this (kind of) (almost) gracious tone from him is confusing. https://t.co/1GBSzfNH8H
— Maeve Reston (@MaeveReston) December 13, 2017
CNN”s Jim Acosta, an outspoken opponent of Trump, cited sources close to the White House describing the defeat as “devastating” for Trump.
Source close to WH: "It's devastating for the president… this is an earthquake… Virginia but on steroids… the president has egg on his face" because of Bannon.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) December 13, 2017
He also blamed Trump for endorsing and campaigning for Moore.
Trump had the opportunity to keep his distance from Moore and didn't. He believed Moore's denials, endorsed him, campaigned for him. https://t.co/gxXIzyJki7
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) December 13, 2017
Earlier, he had cited similar anonymous sources, saying that a Jones win would mean Trump would be “wounded” going into the midterms.
Earlier tonight sources close to WH conceded to us Trump would be "wounded" heading into 2018 if Moore loses tonight. https://t.co/81cWuJCGXQ
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) December 13, 2017
MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, meanwhile, used the defeat to send a warning to all Senate Republicans:
Message tonight to every GOP member in congress:
If you think the President's hold on your base will save you, think again.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 13, 2017
Adam Shaw is a Breitbart News politics reporter based in New York. Follow Adam on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.
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