President Donald Trump admonished Sen. Bob Corker on Tuesday over a New York Times interview in which the Tennessee Republican warned that Trump could start World War III.
“The Failing @nytimes set Liddle’ Bob Corker up by recording his conversation. Was made to sound a fool, and that’s what I am dealing with!” Trump wrote in a tweet.
New York Times political reporters pushed back against Trump’s assertion, saying that Corker’s aides made sure the whole interview was recorded.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/917736141264244738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Corker had 2 aides on line, also recording, and they made sure after it ended that I was taping, too.
EXCERPTS >https://t.co/xo4FNaSTvp
Trump’s comments were the latest salvo in an ongoing battle between the president and the outgoing senator, who is set to retire after the 2018 midterm elections.
Last week Corker, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized Trump for contradicting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s efforts to ease tensions with North Korea through diplomacy. He also singled out Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and White House chief of staff John Kelly as the “people that help separate our country from chaos,” seeming to deliberately omit Trump.
After Corker made the “chaos” comments, Trump claimed that the senator sought his endorsement before deciding against seeking reelection in 2018, an assertion that Corker’s office said was untrue, noting that the president himself offered to endorse the senator just last week.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/917026789188399105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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…
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/917029060471152640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
..my endorsement). He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said “NO THANKS.” He is also largely responsible for the horrendous Iran Deal!
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/917030148867682304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
…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!
Corker responded quickly, saying the White House was an “adult day care center,” and told the New York Times that Trump’s actions could start the US down a path to World War III.
Despite lobbying from top Republicans including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Corker ruled out a bid for running for reelection as some on the right, such as former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, considered backing a primary challenger to the Tennessee senator, who has been increasingly critical of the president’s conduct in office.
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