Donald Trump Jr. backs legal gambling plan, asks why Alabama Senate is 'refusing to let the people vote'

Donald Trump Jr. posted a message of support for the legal gambling proposal awaiting a final vote in the Alabama Senate.

On Tuesday, after a conference committee advanced the two-bill plan and the Alabama House voted to concur, the Senate fell one vote short in passing the constitutional amendment measure, which requires a three-fifths threshold of support. It was carried over and can be brought back up in the final days of the 2024 legislative session.

Ahead of his visit to Alabama next week, Don Jr. said the current hang-up, “Makes no sense to me!”

“I’m excited to be in Alabama next week for a fundraiser for my dad, but whenever I ask anyone from there what’s going on in the state this is all they talk about,” Trump posted.

“Why’s their senate refusing to let the people vote on a clean bill to legalize the lottery & fund education when 45 states already do it? Wouldn’t they rather keep the billions of $$$ in Alabama instead of sending it to other states?”

I’m excited to be in Alabama next week for a fundraiser for my dad, but whenever I ask anyone from there what's going on in the state this is all they talk about. Why's their senate refusing to let the people vote on a clean bill to legalize the lottery & fund education when 45… https://t.co/g6rWOvAWJC

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 2, 2024

On Tuesday night, the Alabama Senate voted 20-15 in favor of legislation that proposes to change the Alabama Constitution to accommodate a legal framework for gambling that has been negotiated by lawmakers throughout the 2024 session.

State Sen. Greg Albritton, who voted in favor of the House-Senate compromise as a member of the conference committee, voted no on the bill Tuesday night, citing concerns from his constituents, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Senate roll call on motion to concur with conference report

Nays: Albritton, Allen, Bell, Butler, Carnley, Elliott, Givhan, Kelley, Kitchens, Orr, Roberts, Shelnutt, Stutts, Weaver, Willams.

Yeas: Barfoot, Beasley, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman, Coleman-Madison, Figures, Gudger,…

— Grayson Everett (@Grayson270) May 1, 2024

“I had to come to a decision on this because the rewriting of (the bill) put my constituents in a very difficult circumstance,” Albritton (R-Atmore) told Alabama Daily News on Wednesday. “We put ourselves in a state position so the state had absolutely nothing to offer PCI for a compact,” he said.

The Alabama House quickly concurred with the conference committee report on Tuesday afternoon.

“The legislation passed in the House today cracks down on illegal gambling by implementing strong, clear and enforceable laws. It ensures all lottery proceeds, which are projected to exceed $300 million annually, benefit education and education only,” Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.

“Most importantly, it allows the people of Alabama to vote on this issue for the first time in 25 years.”

In February, another close Trump advisor, Kellyanne Conway, met with Alabama lawmakers to share polling information about the budgetary benefits and political viability of legalizing and controlling gambling in Alabama.

Thursday is Day 27 of the 2024 legislative session.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270