Donald Trump latest: Why is US President being condemned by fellow Republicans?

Three Republican Senators have condemned President Trump today, hitting out at comments he made at a campaign rally on Tuesday night. 

In his speech to a packed crowd, Trump unleashed an attack on Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. 

Trump in his talk on Tuesday night cast doubt on the testimony of Professor Ford, mocking her for not being able to answer some of the questions put to her by the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

The President said to the rally: «Where’s the house? I don’t know! Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don’t know!  “But I had one beer. That’s the only thing I remember. And a man’s life is in tatters.»

Shortly after Professor Ford’s testimony on September 28, Trump said she was a «very fine woman».

Following his comments at the Mississippi campaign rally, senators Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have condemned the president for his outburst. 

All three senators are key votes in Brett Kavanaugh’s path to becoming Supreme Court Justice.  Mr Flake and Ms Collins called Mr Trump’s remarks «appalling» and «just plain wrong».

Mr Flake, who helped to push forward the FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh, told the NBC’s Today show: «There’s no time and no place for remarks like that.

«To discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is just not right. 

“It’s just not right. I wish he hadn’t had done it.» Ms Collins, from Maine, spoke to reporters today saying: «The president’s comments were just plain wrong.»

She has not divulged whether she will vote for Judge Kavanaugh.

Whilst Ms Murkowski of Alaska said Trump’s remarks were «wholly inappropriate, and in my view unacceptable.» 

When asked whether the President’s attack would impact her vote, she answered: «I am taking everything into account.» Professor Ford’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, described Trump’s words as «a vicious, vile and soulless attack» on her.

He said: «Is it any wonder that she was terrified to come forward, and that other sexual assault survivors are as well?»

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has since dismissed the widely held view that Trump mocked Professor Ford. 

She said the president was «stating the facts» and complained that both Ford and Kavanaugh were «victims» of a plot by Democrats to thwart the Supreme Court nomination.