Sen. Bob Corker, the Foreign Relations chairman, says world leaders are "very aware" that much of what President Donald Trump says "is untrue." He says the president is "debasing our nation."
Speaking to CNN on Tuesday outside a congressional hearing room, Corker said, "The president has great difficulty with the truth on many issues."
Reporter: Do you regret supporting Pres. Trump in the election?
Sen. Corker: "Let's just put it this way, I would not do that again." pic.twitter.com/NJJTkRmSY2— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 24, 2017
The Tennessee Republican senator, who is retiring, says Trump "is obviously not going to rise to the occasion as president."
Trump's presidential tenure will be remembered, Corker says, for "the debasing of our nation, the constant non-truth-telling, the name-calling." He says "it's very sad for our nation."
Corker and Trump traded insults over Twitter Tuesday as Trump prepared to come to the Capitol for a luncheon with Republican senators. Trump said Corker "couldn't get elected dog-catcher."
Bob Corker, who helped President O give us the bad Iran Deal & couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is now fighting Tax Cuts....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2017
...Corker dropped out of the race in Tennesse when I refused to endorse him, and now is only negative on anything Trump. Look at his record!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2017
Corker later fired back:
Same untruths from an utterly untruthful president. #AlertTheDaycareStaff
— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) October 24, 2017
The Associated Press has reported that Trump had urged Corker to run during a private meeting in September.
Corker's chief of staff also said Trump called and asked Corker to reconsider his decision to retire.
Corker appeared on CBS This Morning Tuesday before Trump tweeted.
“Hopefully what presidents do is try to bring everyone together...and not debase our country. And that has not happened,” @SenBobCorker says pic.twitter.com/Vobl6FCtzI
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 24, 2017
