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| Trump endorses Jeff Sessions' rival in Alabama race | Trump endorses Jeff Sessions' rival in Alabama race |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Donald Trump has endorsed the rival of his former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a runoff race for the Republican Alabama Senate nomination. | President Donald Trump has endorsed the rival of his former Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a runoff race for the Republican Alabama Senate nomination. |
| The president's endorsement of Tommy Tuberville, a former football coach, is an embarrassing blow for Mr Sessions. | The president's endorsement of Tommy Tuberville, a former football coach, is an embarrassing blow for Mr Sessions. |
| Mr Sessions, who previously held the senate seat, was forced to leave the attorney general post in 2018 when his relationship with Mr Trump soured. | Mr Sessions, who previously held the senate seat, was forced to leave the attorney general post in 2018 when his relationship with Mr Trump soured. |
| The winner will face the incumbent Democrat Doug Jones in November. | The winner will face the incumbent Democrat Doug Jones in November. |
| Mr Trump described Mr Tuberville as a "terrific" head coach and "a REAL LEADER". | Mr Trump described Mr Tuberville as a "terrific" head coach and "a REAL LEADER". |
| The former coach thanked the president for his endorsement, saying he looked forward to draining the swamp. | The former coach thanked the president for his endorsement, saying he looked forward to draining the swamp. |
| Mr Sessions responded by saying Mr Trump is free to "endorse anyone he chooses" but that "even before he declared for the presidency, I fought for the principles that Donald Trump so effectively advocated in the campaign and has advanced as President". | Mr Sessions responded by saying Mr Trump is free to "endorse anyone he chooses" but that "even before he declared for the presidency, I fought for the principles that Donald Trump so effectively advocated in the campaign and has advanced as President". |
| Mr Sessions, 72, had held the Alabama senate seat for 20 years. He has been a controversial figure, coming under fire from Democrats over his hard-line stance on immigration and allegations of racist remarks. | Mr Sessions, 72, had held the Alabama senate seat for 20 years. He has been a controversial figure, coming under fire from Democrats over his hard-line stance on immigration and allegations of racist remarks. |
| The president's endorsement comes after no Republican hopeful could win more than 50% of the vote in the party's primary race last week. | The president's endorsement comes after no Republican hopeful could win more than 50% of the vote in the party's primary race last week. |
| Mr Tuberville had a slight edge, however, winning the biggest share of the votes - 32% - leaving Mr Sessions in second with 31%. | Mr Tuberville had a slight edge, however, winning the biggest share of the votes - 32% - leaving Mr Sessions in second with 31%. |
| Voters will decide on 31 March which Republican will battle the current senator, Democrat Doug Jones, during the November election. | Voters will decide on 31 March which Republican will battle the current senator, Democrat Doug Jones, during the November election. |
| Mr Jones, who won the seat in a 2017 special election, is seen as a vulnerable Democrat as Alabama has long been a conservative stronghold. | Mr Jones, who won the seat in a 2017 special election, is seen as a vulnerable Democrat as Alabama has long been a conservative stronghold. |
| Some analysts say Mr Trump's endorsement and latest Twitter critiques could be a fatal blow to Mr Sessions' campaign. | Some analysts say Mr Trump's endorsement and latest Twitter critiques could be a fatal blow to Mr Sessions' campaign. |
| What's the Trump-Sessions row about? | What's the Trump-Sessions row about? |
| In 2016, Mr Sessions was the first US senator to endorse Mr Trump. | In 2016, Mr Sessions was the first US senator to endorse Mr Trump. |
| A staunch loyalist, he was the vice-chairman of the White House transition team and eventually gave up his longtime Senate seat to become Mr Trump's first attorney general in 2017. | |
| But he fell out of Mr Trump's good graces a year later when he refused to oversee the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. That inquiry, led by special counsel Robert Mueller, has been a sore spot for Mr Trump, who has repeatedly deemed it a "witch hunt". | But he fell out of Mr Trump's good graces a year later when he refused to oversee the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. That inquiry, led by special counsel Robert Mueller, has been a sore spot for Mr Trump, who has repeatedly deemed it a "witch hunt". |
| Mr Sessions recused himself after Democrats accused him of failing to disclose contacts with the Russian ambassador during his attorney general confirmation hearing (which he later claimed he had forgotten about). | Mr Sessions recused himself after Democrats accused him of failing to disclose contacts with the Russian ambassador during his attorney general confirmation hearing (which he later claimed he had forgotten about). |
| Since then, Mr Trump has not held back in his criticisms of his former ally, saying choosing Mr Sessions was the "biggest mistake" of his presidency. | Since then, Mr Trump has not held back in his criticisms of his former ally, saying choosing Mr Sessions was the "biggest mistake" of his presidency. |
| After Mr Sessions failed to win a majority vote in last week's primary, Mr Trump tweeted: "This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn't have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt." | After Mr Sessions failed to win a majority vote in last week's primary, Mr Trump tweeted: "This is what happens to someone who loyally gets appointed Attorney General of the United States & then doesn't have the wisdom or courage to stare down & end the phony Russia Witch Hunt." |
| Who is Tommy Tuberville? | Who is Tommy Tuberville? |
| Following decades as an American football coach at multiple US colleges, Mr Tuberville, 65, retired in 2016 as one of the top 50 most-winning coaches of all time. | Following decades as an American football coach at multiple US colleges, Mr Tuberville, 65, retired in 2016 as one of the top 50 most-winning coaches of all time. |
| An outspoken conservative and Trump supporter, he has made appearances on Fox News and was among those calling for former President Barack Obama to release his birth certificate. | An outspoken conservative and Trump supporter, he has made appearances on Fox News and was among those calling for former President Barack Obama to release his birth certificate. |
| At a campaign event in August, he said though he was a "Donald Trump guy", he was "pissed off" at the president for not fixing issues with veteran's access to healthcare - something his Republican rivals' used in ads against him. | At a campaign event in August, he said though he was a "Donald Trump guy", he was "pissed off" at the president for not fixing issues with veteran's access to healthcare - something his Republican rivals' used in ads against him. |
| Mr Tuberville later told local news site AL.com veterans are his first priority and that he meant Mr Trump just did not know all the details of the situation. | Mr Tuberville later told local news site AL.com veterans are his first priority and that he meant Mr Trump just did not know all the details of the situation. |
| In the months since, he has emphasised his loyalty to Mr Trump, saying: "God sent us Donald Trump." | In the months since, he has emphasised his loyalty to Mr Trump, saying: "God sent us Donald Trump." |