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| Trump deletes tweets after backing Alabama primary loser | Trump deletes tweets after backing Alabama primary loser |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has deleted several tweets endorsing a candidate he backed in an Alabama election after he crashed to defeat on Tuesday. | US President Donald Trump has deleted several tweets endorsing a candidate he backed in an Alabama election after he crashed to defeat on Tuesday. |
| "Luther Strange has been shooting up in the Alabama polls since my endorsement," Mr Trump wrote in one now-removed post. | "Luther Strange has been shooting up in the Alabama polls since my endorsement," Mr Trump wrote in one now-removed post. |
| He campaigned for Mr Strange, but could not save him from defeat to ultraconservative firebrand Roy Moore. | He campaigned for Mr Strange, but could not save him from defeat to ultraconservative firebrand Roy Moore. |
| The underdog's victory has sent shockwaves through Washington. | The underdog's victory has sent shockwaves through Washington. |
| Things Republican Roy Moore believes | Things Republican Roy Moore believes |
| In one now-deleted Tweet, the president said Mr Strange "will never let you down!" according to news website ProPublica, which documents Mr Trump's posts. | In one now-deleted Tweet, the president said Mr Strange "will never let you down!" according to news website ProPublica, which documents Mr Trump's posts. |
| In another, the president said "vote today for 'Big Luther'". | In another, the president said "vote today for 'Big Luther'". |
| A lesson for the president | A lesson for the president |
| Analysis:By Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter | Analysis:By Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter |
| Alabama Senator Luther Strange is disappearing down the memory hole. | Alabama Senator Luther Strange is disappearing down the memory hole. |
| As in George Orwell's 1984, where politically inconvenient information is scrubbed from the records, Donald Trump is airbrushing over past support for the soon-to-be-former senator. | As in George Orwell's 1984, where politically inconvenient information is scrubbed from the records, Donald Trump is airbrushing over past support for the soon-to-be-former senator. |
| It's just part of the president's efforts to mend fences with his Make America Great Again base and their more impassioned advocates. | It's just part of the president's efforts to mend fences with his Make America Great Again base and their more impassioned advocates. |
| Getting back in favour with Mr Moore's supporters shouldn't be too hard for Mr Trump, given there were few who seemed to believe his heart was in the Strange endorsement. | Getting back in favour with Mr Moore's supporters shouldn't be too hard for Mr Trump, given there were few who seemed to believe his heart was in the Strange endorsement. |
| They thought the president was mistaken or being misled, and he would eventually come around. It didn't take long. | They thought the president was mistaken or being misled, and he would eventually come around. It didn't take long. |
| If there's a lesson the president will take from all this, it may be that he shouldn't try too hard to push his supporters in a direction they don't want to go. | If there's a lesson the president will take from all this, it may be that he shouldn't try too hard to push his supporters in a direction they don't want to go. |
| And if you're a Washington politician seeking re-election next year, it's best to assume you're going to be on your own. | And if you're a Washington politician seeking re-election next year, it's best to assume you're going to be on your own. |
| Early on Wednesday, Mr Trump changed his tune to congratulate Mr Moore on his victory. | Early on Wednesday, Mr Trump changed his tune to congratulate Mr Moore on his victory. |
| "Sounds like a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. He will help to #MAGA!" he tweeted, referring to his "Make America Great Again" catchphrase. | "Sounds like a really great guy who ran a fantastic race. He will help to #MAGA!" he tweeted, referring to his "Make America Great Again" catchphrase. |
| The Republican president has been known previously to occasionally delete tweets, most often replacing them after correcting spelling errors or other mistakes. | |
| Some watchdog groups have criticised the deletions, saying that the tweets are government records that must be preserved for the historical record. | |
| Mr Moore rode a wave of support in the Republican primary from the same grassroots conservative movement that helped elect Mr Trump. | Mr Moore rode a wave of support in the Republican primary from the same grassroots conservative movement that helped elect Mr Trump. |
| Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell spent nearly $9m on Mr Strange's campaign. | Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell spent nearly $9m on Mr Strange's campaign. |
| But Mr Moore derided his opponent as an "establishment lackey". | But Mr Moore derided his opponent as an "establishment lackey". |
| With all 67 counties reporting, the outspoken evangelical Christian led the incumbent by 55% to 45%. | With all 67 counties reporting, the outspoken evangelical Christian led the incumbent by 55% to 45%. |
| Mr Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence both appeared with Mr Strange at rallies in Alabama. | Mr Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence both appeared with Mr Strange at rallies in Alabama. |
| The president had tweeted support for him at least 10 times. | The president had tweeted support for him at least 10 times. |
| During a campaign appearance for Mr Strange last week, Mr Trump told the crowd "I might have made a mistake" in endorsing the former Alabama attorney general. | During a campaign appearance for Mr Strange last week, Mr Trump told the crowd "I might have made a mistake" in endorsing the former Alabama attorney general. |
| Mr Strange was appointed to the Alabama Senate seat after Jeff Sessions joined the Trump administration as attorney general. | Mr Strange was appointed to the Alabama Senate seat after Jeff Sessions joined the Trump administration as attorney general. |
| A White House aide told CNN on Wednesday that the president felt "embarrassed" by Mr Strange's loss. | A White House aide told CNN on Wednesday that the president felt "embarrassed" by Mr Strange's loss. |
| Political website Axios reports that Mr Trump blames Mr McConnell and "has taken to physically mocking" him. | Political website Axios reports that Mr Trump blames Mr McConnell and "has taken to physically mocking" him. |
| Mr Moore, 70, is best known for twice losing his position on the Alabama Supreme Court. | Mr Moore, 70, is best known for twice losing his position on the Alabama Supreme Court. |
| He was de-benched the first time for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse and again for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licences. | He was de-benched the first time for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the courthouse and again for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licences. |
| Mr Moore is now the heavy favourite for Alabama's special election in December against a Democrat. | Mr Moore is now the heavy favourite for Alabama's special election in December against a Democrat. |
| Alabama has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in a quarter of a century. | Alabama has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in a quarter of a century. |