'Duck Dynasty's Phil and Willie Robertson Reveal Why They Endorsed Different GOP Candidates: 'Anyone Is Better Than Hillary or Bernie'

Jan 27, 2016 09:44 AM EST

Father and son duo Willie and Phil Robertson of "Duck Dynasty" fame recently revealed why they endorsed different GOP candidates, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, for the 2016 presidential election.

During a Monday appearance on Fox News' "Hannity", the bearded reality stars explained that while they hope Trump or Cruz will win the GOP nomination, any Republican candidate is better than the Democratic "alternative".

"It could have been worse," Phil told host Sean Hannity of his son's choice for Trump. "He could've said, 'Dad, I'm going with Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders' [...] Then we would have had some worries, my man!" 

As earlier noted by The Gospel Herald, Willie Robertson, CEO of the Duck Commander brand, is officially endorsing billionaire businessman Donald Trump, while his father, Phil Robertson, is endorsing Trump's chief rival -- Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

When asked why he chose to endorse Cruz over Trump, Phil told Hannity that Cruz stood out to him as representing "moral and religious people."

"[...] the writer of our Constitution, James Madison, said this Constitution was written for a moral and religious people. It's wholly inadequate for any other. So I just looked at Cruz. He stood out in my mind as being a moral and religious man. I thought to myself, 'Good enough for me.' It's about that simple on my part," the "Duck Commander" said.

Willie added to the Fox News host that he prefers Trump as a presidential candidate due to his extensive business experience and dedication to preserving the family.

"Our system is broken...I think a lot of the politicians are just more of the same. I want someone in there who can shake it up...I like a man who puts his money where his mouth is and isn't in debt to anyone...I think [Trump's] the man for the job," he said.

"He's run a business and I think, you know, so many of these people come in. They've never run a business. They don't know what they're doing when they get there, and I just like somebody who's run a business, especially New York City. I think that's an advantage. I think you couldn't be that successful in New York City without having to be able to work with different kinds of people, and I think he's done that and I think he will actually work with other people," Willie said.

Phil clarified: "I don't dislike Donald Trump at all, and if he wins the nomination, hey, I'm all in with him. Think about the alternative here. Hillary Clinton? Bernie Sanders?"

Willie Robertson previously voiced his support for Trump during the 2016 Outdoor Sportsman Awards in Las Vegas earlier this month.

"Mr. Trump is a real leader," the reality star said in a press release ahead of the event. "He represents success and strength, two attributes our country needs. Like me, he is a successful businessman and family man and I endorse his candidacy for President of the United States."

Just a week earlier, Phil Robertson endorsed Cruz: "My qualifications for president of the United States are rather narrow: Is he or she Godly, does he or she love us, can he or she do the job, and finally would they kill a duck and put him in a pot and make him a good duck gumbo?" Robertson says in an ad from the campaign in which he is shown hunting alongside the Texas Senator. "I've looked at the candidates. Ted Cruz is my man."

Meanwhile, Trump recently topped the 40% mark for the first time in CNN/ORC polling, standing at 41% -- more than doubling the support of Sen. Ted Cruz, who notches 19% support in the poll.