Share
News

Trump's Harshest GOP Critics Are Packing Up and Leaving

Share

Republican Sens. Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee — two of President Donald Trump’s fiercest GOP critics — will officially be retired as of Thursday when the 116th Congress convenes.

However, incoming Utah senator and former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney appears ready to take up their banner.

Both Flake and Corker staked their ground among the anti-Trump ranks and saw low approval numbers in their respective home states, all but dictating decisions not to seek re-election in 2018.

Flake — who published the book “Conscience of a Conservative” months after Trump took office — not only took swipes at him in the book, but throughout the 45th president’s first two years in the White House.

Last spring, the Snowflake, Arizona, native said the “presidency has been debased” by Trump and the commander in chief has a “bottomless appetite for destruction and division.”

More recently, Flake refused to support dozens of the president’s judicial nominees, unless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled a floor vote for legislation the Arizonan cosponsored with Democratic Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Cory Booker of New Jersey, which shielded special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by Trump.

In November, Flake said that he hopes a Republican runs against Trump, Fox News reported.

Do you think Romney will take on the anti-Trump role in the Senate?

“I hope somebody does (run), just to remind Republicans what it means to be conservative and what it means to be decent. We’ve got to bring this back,” he said.

Meanwhile, Corker has referred to the Trump White House as an “adult day care center.”

Trump hit Corker last month tweeting, “Senator Bob Corker just stated that, ‘I’m so privileged to serve in the Senate for twelve years, and that’s what I told the people of our state that’s what I’d do, serve for two terms.’ But that is Not True – wanted to run but poll numbers TANKED when I wouldn’t endorse him.”

Related:
Major Upset: GOP's David McCormick Defeats Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, Making Trump's Win Even Bigger

Corker responded, “Yes, just like Mexico is paying for the wall… #AlertTheDaycareStaff.”

The Tennessean, who served as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, disagreed with Trump on many of his foreign policy decisions.

Most recently, Corker took exception to Trump’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

“It’s hard to imagine that any president would wake up and make this kind of decision with this little communication, with this little preparation,” he said.

Some in the media are predicting that Romney will step into Flake’s and Corker’s shoes.

The Hill reported that 2012 Republican presidential nominee is “expected to serve as one of the most prominent counterweights to Trump” with the departure of the two senators.

Romney, 71, made a highly-publicized speech during the heat of the 2016 Republican primary during which he claimed, “dishonesty is Trump’s hallmark” and labeled him a “phony” and a “fraud.”

The two met after the election and seemed to reach a truce. Trump, in fact, endorsed Romney in his U.S. Senate race, calling him a “worthy successor” to Orrin Hatch, though he also appeared to signal he would rather have had Hatch, a strong supporter, stay around.

On the eve of taking office, Romney returned to his 2016 GOP primary anti-Trump rhetoric in a scathing Washington Post Op-Ed published on Tuesday night.

He wrote that Trump’s “conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions this month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.”

“A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect,” Romney added. “With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.”

Further, the soon-to-be freshman senator promised to “speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions” made by the president.

Some political watchers have speculated that Romney sought the Senate seat to position himself for a run against Trump in 2020.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , ,
Share
Randy DeSoto has written more than 3,000 articles for The Western Journal since he began with the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation