President Donald Trump's decision to speak out in Roy Moore's defense was "sickening" and "beyond stupid," according to former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele.

"This is beyond stupid. And there's irreparable harm that's being done to this party and to this country. Someone needs to take control here and it's certainly not the president," Steele said on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Trump generated controversy this week when he declined to say whether he believed accusations that Moore engaged in a range of sexual misconduct with multiple teenage girls decades ago.

"He denies it. He totally denies it," Trump said when asked about the allegations against the Republican Senate candidate at the White House Tuesday.

Steele called Trump's response "sickening" during the Hardball appearance.

"That's what's so sickening about what the president did today. And every self-respecting Republican needs to stand up and say 'enough, you cannot side with Roy Moore on this," Steele said.