Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Trump, told influential conservatives he would be backing Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, giving the ex-state chief justice a powerful ally and access to a broader fundraising base for his race against incumbent Sen. Luther Strange in next month's Republican runoff, Politico reported Monday.

Bannon's apparent support of Moore puts him on opposing sides with Trump, who endorsed Strange ahead of the Republican primary earlier this month. Trump tweeted numerous times up until the election urging his Alabama followers to vote for Strange.

The Moore campaign could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bannon, the controversial executive chairman of Breitbart News who was fired from the White House last week for giving a lengthy interview that was seen as undermining Trump -- a week after a woman counter-protesting neo-Nazis died in Charlottesville -- made the announcement during a closed-door meeting of the Conservative Action Project, according to two people in the room who spoke to Politico.

Bannon framed his support of Moore as not being in opposition to Trump but in opposition to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has provided support and millions of dollars to Strange's campaign.

Moore is using Strange's D.C. support to tie his rival to the Washington establishment.

In the private meeting where he announced his support of Moore, Bannon characterized the race as being between Republican camps who support and oppose the president.

Politico pointed out that Bannon has close ties to Robert Mercer, a megadonor that bankrolled Breitbart and who could steer his wealth to Strange's campaign or outside groups that support the judge.

Moore, who was removed twice from the Alabama Supreme Court, is known for his social conservative positions and recently gained the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. During the primary, he gained the support of action hero Chuck Norris and "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson.