Trump Endorses Katie Britt Ahead Of GOP Runoff In Alabama Senate Race

TUSCALOOSA, AL — In a move many would have considered inconceivable only months ago, former President Donald Trump on Friday surprised Alabama voters by formally endorsing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt ahead of the June 21 runoff for U.S. Senate.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

“Katie is an Incredible Fighter for the people of Alabama ... As President and CEO of Alabama’s Business Council, Katie has been working hard to Grow Alabama’s Economy, Create Jobs, and Restore the Great American Dream. She has the Total Support and Endorsement of Chairman Jimmy Parnell and the Alabama Farmers Federation.”

- Trump's endorsement of Britt

Trump's blessing for Britt comes following his retracted endorsement of GOP ally and Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks in March.

Brooks' fall from grace with the former president can be traced back first to his ill-received speech at Trump's massive rally in Cullman last August. The cardinal sin committed by Brooks, as noted by the crowd's reaction and Trump's subsequent fervor, came when the congressman suggested to the masses that they move on from the results of the 2020 presidential election and focus on winning back the White House in 2024.

Brooks was met with boos and middle fingers, which was followed by Trump publicly steaming about the congressman — one of his earliest supporters in congress. Trump's ire with Brooks seemed to only fester in the months that followed, which saw him begin to mock the congressman by calling him "Woke Mo Brooks."

Despite the public lashing, Brooks made a last-ditch attempt to publicly plea for the former president's support earlier this week.

While Trump's pulled endorsement for Brooks would have been difficult for even the most seasoned political strategist to have predicted, many thought it equally unlikely that Trump would ever endorse Britt.

But after Britt and Brooks edged out the competition in the primary to appear against each other on the runoff ballot, many began to wonder if Trump would possibly change his mind on pulling his endorsement of Brooks.

A former aid for longtime Republican U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, Britt's connections to the establishment politician initially set her at odds with those supportive of the more fringe and populist planks of Trump's platform.

Ahead of the May 24 primary in Alabama, however, Britt ramped up her public alignment with the Trump agenda by regularly mentioning her support of the former president's policies, while also spending millions of dollars on ads expressing her views on the garden variety of conservative issues such as abortion, the Second Amendment, immigration and inflation.

"President Trump knows that Alabamians are sick and tired of failed, do-nothing career politicians," Britt said on social media Friday after receiving the endorsement. "In the Senate, I will fight to defend Alabama’s values, advance the America First agenda, and preserve the American Dream for generations to come."

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.