Trump mocks Flake, mentions ‘standing ovation’ for third time

President Trump mocked Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) for criticizing him, writing in a tweet that the retiring senator has just an 18 percent approval rating and that his other GOP colleagues gave Trump a standing ovation on Tuesday.

Jeff Flake, with an 18% approval rating in Arizona, said “a lot of my colleagues have spoken out.” Really, they just gave me a standing O!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017

Trump offered the tweet a day after Flake shocked the Senate by announcing his retirement. The senator then gave a lengthy floor speech that criticized Trump’s behavior and leadership without naming the president. Flake argued that too many in his party were complicit in Trump’s behavior.

In a television interview on CNN Wednesday morning, Flake said a number of his GOP colleagues in the Senate had expressed concern about Trump’s behavior and leadership. 

Flake: “Privately, a number of my colleagues have expressed concern about the direction of our politics and the behavior of the President” pic.twitter.com/Lx12N97MAo

— CNN (@CNN) October 25, 2017

This is the third time Trump has tweeted about getting a “standing ovation” from the GOP senators during their Tuesday lunch.

So nice being with Republican Senators today. Multiple standing ovations! Most are great people who want big Tax Cuts and success for U.S.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2017

The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2017