ALABAMA (WHNT) — Former president Donald Trump announced Wednesday morning that he has pulled his endorsement for Representative Mo Brooks in this year’s U.S. Senate primary.

Trump now saying Brooks was disloyal in doubting claims about the 2020 presidential election.

In a statement issued this morning, the former president says in part, “When I endorsed Mo Brooks, he took a 44-point lead and was unstoppable. He then hired a new campaign staff who ‘brilliantly’ convinced him to stop talking about the 2020 election.”

“Very sad,” Trump continued, “but since he decided to go in another direction, so have I, and I am hereby withdrawing my endorsement for Mo Brooks for the senate. I don’t think the great people of Alabama will disagree with me. Election Fraud must be captured and stopped, or we won’t have a country anymore.”

Trump released his comments in two parts on Wednesday, below his full statement:

“Mo Brooks of Alabama made a horrible mistake recently when he went “woke” and stated, referring to the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, “Put that behind you, put that behind you,” despite the fact that the Election was rife with fraud and irregularities. If we forget, the Radical Left Democrats will continue to Cheat and Steal Elections. Just look at what is happening in Wisconsin, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and elsewhere, but tremendous progress has been made that will help us in 2022 and 2024. The 2020 Election was rigged, and we can’t let them get away with it.

“When I endorsed Mo Brooks, he took a 44-point lead and was unstoppable. He then hired a new campaign staff who “brilliantly” convinced him to “stop talking about the 2020 Election.” He listened to them. Then, according to the polls, Mo’s 44-point lead totally evaporated all based on his “2020” statement made at our massive rally in Cullman, Alabama. When I heard his statement, I said, “Mo, you just blew the Election, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Very sad but, since he decided to go in another direction, so have I, and I am hereby withdrawing my Endorsement of Mo Brooks for the Senate. I don’t think the great people of Alabama will disagree with me. Election Fraud must be captured and stopped, or we won’t have a Country anymore. I will be making a new Endorsement in the near future!

“Mo Brooks was a leader on the 2020 Election Fraud and then, all of sudden, during the big rally in Alabama, he went “woke” and decided to drop everything he stood for—when he did, the people of Alabama dropped him, and now I have done so also. The people get it, but unfortunately, Mo doesn’t.“

Mo Brooks released the following statement in response: 

“It’s disappointing that, just like in 2017, President Trump lets Mitch McConnell manipulate him again. Every single negative TV ad against our campaign has come from McConnell and his allies. I wish President Trump wouldn’t fall for McConnell’s ploys, but, once again, he has.

“I have not changed.  I am the only proven America First candidate in this Senate race.  I am the only candidate who fought voter fraud and election theft when it counted, between November 3 and January 6.  

“I repeat what has prompted President Trump’s ire. The only legal way America can prevent 2020’s election debacle is for patriotic Americans to focus on and win the 2022 and 2024 elections so that we have the power to enact laws that give us honest and accurate elections.

“President Trump asked me to rescind the 2020 elections, immediately remove Joe Biden from the White House, immediately put President Trump back in the White House, and hold a new special election for the presidency. As a lawyer, I’ve repeatedly advised President Trump that January 6 was the final election contest verdict and neither the U.S. Constitution nor the U.S. Code permits what President Trump asks. Period.

“I’ve told President Trump the truth knowing full well that it might cause President Trump to rescind his endorsement. But I took a sworn oath to defend and protect the U.S. Constitution. I honor my oath. That is the way I am. I break my sworn oath for no man.

“I’m still the most conservative candidate in the race. Katie Britt’s campaign is supported and funded by McConnell allies, and she’s still a high taxing, open borders, cheap foreign labor, Chamber of Commerce lobbyist. 

“There’s only one conservative option in this race, and I am confident that the people of Alabama will see that on Election Day.”

After Trump made the announcement, Brooks said he also told Trump that Republicans should put their efforts into winning upcoming elections.

“We as a Republican party and we as Republican voters need to focus on that because as you’ve seen in Washington, you could have all of the good intentions you wish, but if you don’t have the votes, you don’t win,” Brooks said.

Brooks is in the running for the seat occupied by longtime Senator Richard Shelby, who announced he would be retiring at the end of the term.

Brooks has been Trump’s candidate of choice since April 2021. Up to this point in the race, the Brooks campaign has highlighted the congressman’s relationship with the former president.

“The Trump announcement today sucks much of the oxygen out of the Brooks’ campaign,” said News 19 political analyst Jess Brown.

Brown said much of the early foundation of the Brooks campaign relied on the endorsement from Trump, and without it, Brooks will have to build an issue-based platform.

“I’m the only person who actually has a track record you can look at to verify from being in the heat of the kitchen and cast a lot of votes,” Brooks said.

Former President Trump has not yet announced who he will be endorsing instead of Brooks. Other Republican candidates include CEO of Pinnacle Solutions, Inc. Mike Durant, and Katie Britt, former chief of staff to the retiring Richard Shelby.

Mike Durant released the following statement after Trump announced he would no longer endorse Brooks:

“I’m not surprised, I was with the President on Monday and he shared with me personally how frustrated he was with him. I told him that I am the clear America first candidate in this race. Other candidates have refused to even mention President Trump, but I have proudly carried the America First banner in this race and always will. I’ve got the momentum to beat the career politicians and send another Trump conservative to Washington.”

Durant has paralleled his candidacy to that of the former president. In a campaign ad, Durant said he was not like Washington’s, “career politicians who didn’t serve their countries and never had a real job.”

Both Britt and Durant have met with Trump. Last year, national news outlets reported Trump was “newly impressed” with challenger Katie Britt after meeting her before a rally in Cullman. Britt, Richard Shelby’s former chief of staff, has highlighted the Trump Administration policies she supported while working for the senator like confirming conservative judges and helping to build Trump’s border wall.

The primary is set for May 24.