It’s not just people on the outside watching Donald Trump’s mental/emotional capacity disintegrate. Others, like Republican Sen. Bob Corker, are noticing the same thing. In a rather candid on-the-fly interview from the halls of Congress, Corker talked about the White House asking him to “intervene” with Trump in moments where he was going “off the tracks.” Corker’s conclusion—and probably a main driver of his recent straight talk about Trump—is that Trump’s getting worse, not better.
“I've had private meetings with him, dinners with him, I’ve played golf with him, I’ve had multiple occasions where the staff has asked me to please intervene—he was getting ready to do something that was really off the tracks,” Corker said, “And look, I've seen no evolution in an upward way. As a matter of fact, I would say, it appears to me that it’s almost devolving.”
Corker also expanded on his earlier assertions that Trump is debasing the country.
“For young people to be watching not only here in our country but around the world, someone of this mentality or… as president of the United States, is something I think that is debasing to our country,” Corker said. “You would think he would aspire to be the president of the United States. And act like a president of the United States. [...] But he's obviously, you know, not up to that.”
Watch Corker’s interview below.
Here’s the transcription:
Kasie Hunt: Sir, you said earlier that the president has debased the country. Can you explain a little bit more what you mean by that?
Bob Corker: So, look, I think the standing up in front of is the American people and stating untruths that everybody knows to be untrue, just the attempted bullying that he does, which everybody sees through. Just the dividing of our company, you know, the name calling. Just, for young people to be watching not only here in our country but around the world, someone of this mentality or… as president of the United States is something that is I think debasing to our country. You would think he would aspire to be the president of the United States, and act like a president of the United States. But you know, that's just not going to be the case apparently. And it's up to others who serve in an elected capacity whether they're governors or mayors or senators to try to conduct themselves in a manner that is more becoming of a leader. But he's obviously, you know, not up to that. I've had private meetings with him, dinners with him, I’ve played golf with him, I’ve had multiple occasions where the staff has asked me to please intervene—he was getting ready to do something that was really off the tracks. And look, I've seen no evolution in an upward way. As a matter of fact, I would say, it appears to me that it’s almost devolving.