NYT reporter fires back at Trump: Corker recorded interview too

A New York Times reporter fired back Tuesday at President Trump after the president claimed the publication set up Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) by recording his conversation.

Trump had tweeted earlier Tuesday that the newspaper set Corker up “to sound a fool.” But New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin disputed Trump’s claim that Corker was recorded without his knowledge.

“Corker had 2 aides on line, also recording, and they made sure after it ended that I was taping, too,” Martin tweeted.

Corker had 2 aides on line, also recording, and they made sure after it ended that I was taping, too.

EXCERPTS >https://t.co/xo4FNaSTvp

— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) October 10, 2017

{mosads}Trump, who has been feuding with Corker after the Tennessee senator questioned his fitness to be president, also debuted a nickname for Corker.

“The Failing @nytimes set Liddle’ Bob Corker up by recording his conversation,” Trump tweeted. “Was made to sound a fool, and that’s what I am dealing with!”

At the beginning of the interview, Corker acknowledged that the conversation was on the record.

“I understand we’re on the record. I don’t like normally talking to you on the record — I’m kidding you — but I will,” Corker says, according to a transcript of the interview with the Times.

Trump has escalated his feud with Corker in recent days.

Over the weekend, Trump said Corker had begged him for his endorsement but that he had declined the request.

Corker shot back, calling the White House “an adult day care center.”

In the interview with the Times, Corker said Trump’s threat to other countries could put the U.S. “on the path to World War III.”