President Trump and outgoing Sen. Bob Corker traded barbs on Sunday amid the ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government.
Earlier on Sunday, the Tennessee Republican blasted Trump, accusing him of manufacturing the shutdown to appease his base.
“This is a made-up fight so the president can look like he’s fighting, but even if he wins, our borders are going to be insecure,” Corker, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Trump then attacked Corker on Twitter, claiming Corker is retiring at the end of the year because his poll numbers “tanked” when the president declined to endorse him.
“Senator Bob Corker just stated that, ‘I’m so priveledged 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…..” Trump tweeted.
He added: “…..Bob Corker was responsible for giving us the horrible Iran Nuclear Deal, which I ended, yet he badmouths me for wanting to bring our young people safely back home. Bob wanted to run and asked for my endorsement. I said NO and the game was over. #MAGA I LOVE TENNESSEE!”
Senator Bob Corker just stated that, “I’m so priveledged 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…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
…..Bob Corker was responsible for giving us the horrible Iran Nuclear Deal, which I ended, yet he badmouths me for wanting to bring our young people safely back home. Bob wanted to run and asked for my endorsement. I said NO and the game was over. #MAGA I LOVE TENNESSEE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
Corker, who earlier Sunday slammed Trump over his abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria leading to the resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, shot back in a tweet: “Yes, just like Mexico is paying for the wall… #AlertTheDaycareStaffSenator.”
Yes, just like Mexico is paying for the wall… #AlertTheDaycareStaff https://t.co/4LwrkrSFFr
— Senator Bob Corker (@SenBobCorker) December 23, 2018
This isn’t their first feud, with the previous one getting personal.
In a series of tweets, Trump had said Corker wanted the president’s endorsement for his re-election bid, but Trump declined.
But a top aide to Corker denied it at the time, and said that Trump had actually asked Corker to reconsider his decision to retire.
During the back and forth in October 2017, Corker also called the White House an “adult day care center.”
