Brooks responds after Trump yanks endorsement: 'I break my sworn oath for no man'

Alabama Senate candidate and GOP Rep. Mo Brooks has issued a response after former President Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew his endorsement of the lawmaker and former political ally.

"It's disappointing that, just like in 2017, President Trump lets [Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell manipulate him again. Every single negative TV ad against our campaign has come from McConnell and his allies," Brooks wrote. "I wish President Trump wouldn't fall for McConnell's ploys, but once again, he has."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Brooks continued by maintaining that he has not changed, and is the "only proven America First candidate" in the Alabama race, despite having "repeatedly advised" Trump there was no way to overturn the 2020 election. He said he did so "knowing full well" that it might cause the former president to yank back his endorsement.

"But I took a sworn oath to defend and protect the U.S. Constitution. I honor my oath," he said. "I break my sworn oath for no man."

Brooks was the first Republican lawmaker to vote against certifying the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021.

He went on to claim that he is still the "most conservative candidate in the race," and he's "confident that the people of Alabama will see that on Election Day."

In August, Brooks was backed by roughly 40 percent of GOP primary voters; according to a poll released Tuesday, however, that support has plunged to just 16.1 percent, per CNBC. His weakening performance is also likely one of the reasons, if not the real reason, Trump backed out.

Explore More
Brigid Kennedy

Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.