Trump reaffirms support for Supreme Court nominee after sexual misconduct hearing

US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for his scandal-stricken Supreme Court nominee on Thursday, following an emotional hearing on Capitol Hill about sexual misconduct claims against the potential judge.

Brett Kavanaugh attempted to deliver a forceful pushback against the allegations of Christine Blasey Ford, who claims that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a house party in the 80s.

"Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him. His testimony was powerful, honest, and riveting," Trump wrote in a tweet following the eight-hour hearing.

"Democrats' search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!"

Ford's tearful recounting of allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were in high school led Trump to express sympathy for Kavanaugh and his family for having to listen to the testimony, according to two Republicans close to the White House but not authorised to speak publicly about private conversations. T

hey added that Trump expressed some frustration at the process - and the staff work - that led Kavanaugh to this point.

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After seeing Ford's powerful testimony, White House aides and allies expressed concern that Kavanaugh, whose nomination already seemed to be teetering, would have an uphill climb to deliver a strong enough showing to match hers.

White House officials believe Kavanaugh's passionate denials of Ford's claims, including the judge's tearful description of the impact the accusations had on his family, met the challenge.

A White House official who was not authorised to speak publicly said the West Wing saw the judge's opening statement as "game changing" and said Trump appeared to be reacting positively.

Signaling the continued White House support for Kavanaugh, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted praise for Sen. Lindsay Graham after the South Carolina Republican railed against Democrats, accusing them of treating Kavanaugh "despicably".

Sanders tweeted that Graham "has more decency and courage than every Democrat member of the committee combined. God bless him".

His speech also attracted huge criticism on social media.

As did Kavanaugh, whose fiery and tense answers, and tendency to avoid answering questions directly inflamed many on social media.

Going into the hearing, Trump had grown increasingly frustrated, angry at members of his staff - and, in particular, White House counsel Don McGahn - for not better managing the confirmation process for his second Supreme Court nominee.

McGahn, who is set to depart his post in coming weeks, had advocated for Kavanaugh, seeing his confirmation as the crowning achievement of his tenure - and part of a decades-long effort to install more conservatives on the high court.

Trump has also criticised Republican leaders in Congress for not speeding the process along, leading to days' worth of revelations against Kavanaugh. White House aides have bemoaned the drip-drip-drip nature of the emerging allegations and thought a faster process could have avoided Ford's testimony.

As the day unfolded, White House aides and allies offered a mix of optimism and frustration. Viewing the hearing from their desks, some aides expressed concerns that Ford appeared highly credible, though others noted there were still gaps in her decades-old story.

But many felt the proceeding took a turn once Kavanaugh appeared. Aides said they thought Kavanaugh was effectively fighting back and expressed optimism he could survive the process.

Trump has also told allies that he wished Kavanaugh's Fox News interview Monday had gone better, believing it was a missed opportunity to change the momentum around the story, according to the two Republicans and another outside adviser. And White House allies noted the importance of how Fox would cover the proceedings in shaping Trump's reactions.

Agencies contributed to this report.