Senate

Trump asked Corker not to retire: report

by Rebecca Savransky - 10/08/17 1:06 PM ET

President Trump reportedly asked Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) to reconsider his decision to retire from the Senate.

CNN reported Trump told Corker he would have endorsed him if he ran for reelection, according to two sources familiar with the discussion.

“The president called the senator early last week and asked him to reconsider his decision not to seek reelection and reaffirmed that he would have endorsed him, as he has said many times,” one of the sources said.

{mosads}On Sunday, Trump went after Corker, saying the Tennessee Republican had “begged” for his endorsement and Trump declined to give it.

“I said ‘NO’ and he dropped out (said he could not win without…my endorsement),” Trump tweeted.

“He also wanted to be Secretary of State, I said ‘NO THANKS.’ “

The president said he would expect Corker to be a “negative voice and stand in the way of our great agenda.”

“Didn’t have the guts to run,” he added.

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

“It’s a shame the White House has become an adult day care center,” he said. “Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.”

Corker announced last month he would not seek reelection once his term ends in 2018.

Last week, Corker said Cabinet officials including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and chief of staff John Kelly “help separate our country from chaos.”

Tags Bob Corker John Kelly Rex Tillerson