Trump endorses Roy Moore: 'We need his vote'

President Trump on Monday tweeted his endorsement of Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat, despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against the former judge.

“Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama. We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more,” Trump tweeted. “No to Jones, a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!”

Trump again tried to tie Moore’s Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, to Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.

“Putting 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,” the president added. “Look at your 401-k’s since Election. Highest Stock Market EVER! Jobs are roaring back!”

Moore, in turn, tweeted that he was “thankful” for Trump’s support.

“The America First agenda will #MAGA,” Moore added. “Can’t wait to help him #DrainTheSwamp.”

Trump and Moore spoke by telephone later Monday morning.

According to White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah, Trump “had a positive call with Judge Roy Moore during which they discussed the state of the Alabama Senate race and the President endorsed Judge Moore’s campaign.”

Moore said that Trump told him, “Go get ’em, Roy!”

Last month, Trump twice offered his tacit support for Moore by blasting Jones, telling Alabama voters to oppose the Democrat. Jones and Moore are competing in the Dec. 12 special election to fill Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s former Senate seat.

“The last thing we need in Alabama and the U.S. Senate is a Schumer/Pelosi puppet who is WEAK on Crime, WEAK on the Border, Bad for our Military and our great Vets, Bad for our 2nd Amendment, AND WANTS TO RAISES TAXES TO THE SKY,” Trump tweeted. “Jones would be a disaster!”

“I endorsed Luther Strange in the Alabama Primary,” the president added. “He shot way up in the polls but it wasn’t enough. Can’t let Schumer/Pelosi win this race. Liberal Jones would be BAD!”

Trump’s support of Moore runs counter to many congressional Republicans, who have called for Moore to exit the race amid allegations from nine women ranging from uncomfortable and unwanted overtures to sexual assault. Most of the accusers said the misconduct occurred when they were teenagers and Moore was in his 30s. Moore has fiercely denied the allegations.

And when asked by reporters if having an alleged molester in the Senate was preferable to seating a Democrat, the president pointed to Moore’s denials.

“Well, he denies it,” Trump said. “Look, he denies it.”

“He says it didn’t happen, and you know, you have to listen to him also,” he added.

The president himself has faced more than a dozen allegations of various forms of misconduct, with most of the women coming forward during last year’s campaign. The October 2016 release of an “Access Hollywood” tape revealed that Trump bragged in 2005 that he could grope and forcibly kiss women without their consent. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has said the administration’s position is that all of Trump’s accusers are lying.

Before Thanksgiving, Trump did not rule out campaigning for Moore like he did for Strange during the Alabama primary. But the White House has since said the president has no plans to hit the campaign trail on Moore’s behalf.

Read more from Yahoo News:

• Trump defends Roy Moore: ‘He totally denies it’

• Ivanka Trump: ‘There’s a special place in hell for people who prey on children’

• Alabama Senate race gets even stranger as Democrat quotes Ivanka in ad

• Roy Moore accuser: ‘I wonder how many me’s he doesn’t know’

• Accuser’s open letter to Roy Moore: ‘Where does your immorality end?’