Trump slams GOP senator: Corker ‘didn’t have the guts to run’
President Trump ripped Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) early Sunday, saying the GOP lawmaker “begged” him to endorse his reelection bid and announced his retirement after the president withheld his support.
“Senator Bob Corker ‘begged’ me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said ‘NO’ and he dropped out (said he could not win without my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said ‘NO THANKS.’ He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!” Trump tweeted.
“Hence, I would fully expect Corker to be a negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda. Didn’t have the guts to run!” the president continued.
Corker, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced last month that he would not seek reelection in 2018.
Corker was the first senator to announce that he will retire for the 2018 primaries and has become increasingly critical of Trump.
He fired back on Saturday that Trump’s White House has become “an adult day care center.”
“Someone obviously missed their shift this morning,” Corker tweeted.
Last week, the Tennessee Republican said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis and chief of staff John Kelly are protecting the country from “chaos.”
Trump allies, such as former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, have expressed interest in presenting primary challenges to establishment Republicans in Congress.
-Updated 11:22 a.m.