White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the decision by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake to not seek re-election in 2018 is “probably a good move.”
Sanders was asked if President Trump had any reaction to Flake’s decision to retire rather than run in 2018 and said she hadn’t spoken to Trump about it.
“I haven’t spoken with him directly since the announcement by Sen. Flake,” Sanders said, “but I think that based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona, it’s probably a good move.”
Flake spent much of his speech on the Senate floor announcing his retirement condemning Trump and his style of politics.
“Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has been excused as telling it like it is when it is actually reckless, outrageous and undignified,” Flake said.
“When such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy. Such behavior does not project strength because our strength comes from our values. It, instead, projects a corruption of the spirit and weakness. It is often said children are watching. Well, they are. And what are we going to do about that? When the next generation asks us, why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up? What are we going to say?”
