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.
And who do you believe will vote for you, Bob Corker? Jeff Flake, probably, John McCain is dead though, so that’s a no show. You were and still are an embarrassment to the great state of Tennessee. Why don’t you try New York or California for a residence…those are your kind of people. At least as a private citizen you can no longer make deals that enrich and aid Iran. And who gives a damn if the Prince of Saudi Arabia ordered Khoshhoggi to be murdered. None of our business; he was not an American…he just had a green card. It happened on Turkish soil; why aren’t you pissed with the Turks? He was not a journalist…he was a commentator. He had an opinion that I never, ever agreed with. I never heard you get all that torn up about the women and gay men that Saudi Arabia had put to death. Why didn’t they matter? Your silence is deafening! You have little man syndrome, Bobby but try to get over yourself.
I’m sorry I wouldn’t vote for Bob Corker for anything! His core values not only don’t align with republicans, but with every opening of his mouth show his true Demonrat allegiance.
PS: I didn’t misspell democrat… my spelling is an accurate representation of that “party”.
The Dems are pretty hard up for a viable candidate… they may be interested.
You whiny shrimp, I hope you do, because it will be so gratifying to millions of people who see you for the wimp you are to see you embarrassed beyond belief for the remarkably small amount of support you actually have, and the total disgust people have for you. GO POKE THE BEAR!
Bob Corker is “thinking” of running for President? President of what?