President Trump on Wednesday described his meeting with Republican senators the day before as a “love fest.”
“The meeting with Republican Senators yesterday, outside of Flake and Corker, was a love fest with standing ovations and great ideas for USA!” Mr. Trump tweeted.
Mr. Trump met with Republican senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday for lunch to talk about policy ideas. The meeting was the first since Mr. Trump and Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker exchanged heated words on social media and in interviews, but after the meeting, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake announced that he intended to retire when his term ends in January 2019.
Mr. Corker had already announced his retirement earlier this year, but he was not as direct in the reason for his retirement as fellow Republican senator Mr. Flake was on Tuesday.
Mr. Flake took to the Senate floor and directly blamed Mr. Trump for the divisive politics of today and said there was no way he could run and win in this atmosphere.
But the president tweeted that the reason the two senators decided to retire is a lot simpler than that.
“The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!” Mr. Trump tweeted.
The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected. Now act so hurt & wounded!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 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
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
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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