Retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) said that he has not ruled out running against President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential primary in 2020.
Breitbart reported the story on Wednesday.
When asked by reporters Tuesday if he plans to run for president in 2020, Corker said, “I have not ruled it out.”
Reporters said that their colleagues often ask Corker this question, to which he usually gives a vague answer.
2020 WATCH: Will Sen. Bob Corker run for President???
“I haven’t ruled it out.”
— Natalie Andrews (@natalieandrews) November 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/byrdinator/status/1062478823785185281
This is not the first time people have speculated on Corker running against Trump. In October 2017, News Channel 9 in his hometown of Chattanooga asked voters for their thoughts. Chattanooga Tea Party leader Mark West said at the time he wouldn’t be surprised if Corker runs but hopes he doesn’t.
Corker announced his retirement in September 2017 amidst increasing unpopularity in Tennessee, which arose from his frequent criticism of the president and his America First agenda.
He received criticism for praising Democrat and former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen during the U.S. Senate election to replace him, in which he admitted that he has closer ties to Bredesen compared to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) who will replace Corker in January.
While speaking to reporters in August, Corker criticized President Donald Trump’s removal of former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance as “kind of a banana republic kind of thing,” The Tennessee Star reported, citing Breitbart. And part of a “tearing down of institutions” instead of building them up. In July, Corker likened the Trump Administration to a “banana republic” for wanting to yank the security clearances.
Corker also said that he would back legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller if it came to the Senate floor for a vote, Breitbart said. The legislation arose as Trump appointed Matt Whitaker to serve as his Acting Attorney General.
Corker joins fellow U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who said last week that “somebody needs to run” against Trump for the 2020 Republican presidential primary nomination. Flake suggested Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) as potential challengers.
Trump in October 2017 said Corker and Flaker were retiring because they were unpopular.
“The reason Flake and Corker dropped out of the Senate race is very simple, they had zero chance of being elected,” Trump wrote in October 2017. “Now act so hurt & wounded!”
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
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
I would not even vote for a dog catcher but he should run as a democrat as he was with them more than not.
Daniel Frost you are so right! Maybe he will choose Flake as his running mate.since they are both RINOS.
I’m just glad he is no longer a senator.
Maybe if him and Flake someone how merge together as one(2 heads are better than 1), he could pull it off.
You should have heard the BOOS from thousands in the audience when Corker’s name was announced at the Trump Rally. For him to even contemplate running against Trump is foolish. The BOOS were so loud that if I were Corker I would have resigned my senate seat the next day. What a disappointment he has been. He keeps throwing his little jabs at Trump. He should be supporting Trump, not pricking him with little arrows. Sorry for going on and on, but Corker really has been a big letdown and he can’t seem to stop letting me down.
He couldn’t win at pin the tail on the donkey.! Why cant he just go away quietly and shut up?
The only place he is going is to K-Street, to sell his [sic] influence. He is a bitter man because his dreams of retiring as a billionaire were dashed when Trump axed TPP.
[…] has been a frequent critic of President Trump, and has not ruled out challenging him in the 2020 Republican presidential […]
Anybody know what the “Council on Foreign Relations” is, and why it was created??
Once you find out, just remember that “Corker” was the “Chairman” of that organization.”
And with that kind of people backing you, money is no problem.
My big toe will get more votes than you.
Let’s just say, if Bob Corker were to be elected President, would they cut a foot off of the Presidential podium or build a Presidential foot stool with the Great Seal on it?
You have as much chance being elected president of the USA as does my cat, little man. Tennesseans wish you would DISAPPEAR!
The only place thing Bob Corker will be doing is cleaning the toilets in GITMO for the duration of his retirement. Jeff Sessions got his pink slip for a reason. I won against him in court in USA-2018-00254 in July with overwhelming irrefutable evidence that will criminally prosecute his predecessors Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Barack Obama, etc. Every Federal Judge in East Tennessee has recused themselves and confessed to a list of felonies a mile long and spanning decades. I’m tired of babysitting those ignorant juvenile delinquents and unfit parents.
Go ahead and run Bob; I can’t wait to vote for your opponent.
Pigs will fly before I would vote for this clown.
He will be running as a G.O.B. Southern Democrat, I am told. But that figures, right?
Whatever G.O.B. means.
Good Ol’ Boy
Hey, it’s worked for Lamar all these years.
Which party will Corker seek the nomination from? Will he do better than Gore in his run?