Senator Flake attacks Trump for 'flagrant disregard of truth and decency'
The senator for Arizona becomes the latest Republican to turn on the President as he says he must put principle ahead of party.
Wednesday 25 October 2017 06:52, UK
Republican Senator Jeff Flake has said Donald Trump's "impulse to threaten and scapegoat" could turn the US into "backward people".
Mr Flake, in a dramatic speech on the Senate floor, launched a fierce attack on the US President, saying American politics had become hardened to "reckless, outrageous and undignified behaviour from the White House".
He lamented what he called the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" in politics, saying: "Heaven help us."
The Arizona senator announced he would not run for re-election next year.
Mr Flake was one of two Republican senators who launched fierce attacks against the President, with who has damaged the country's standing in the world.
The White House responded by saying it was "probably a good move" that Mr Flake was not running for re-election.
Mr Flake said his decision to leave America's upper chamber was motivated by his being .
"There may not be a place for a Republican like me in the current Republican climate or the current Republican Party," he said.
But he went on to say that there were times when one must put principles and one's career ahead of party politics and he could no longer remain silent.
He said the efficacy of the US leadership around the globe was coming into question as the country gave up on its principles in favour of anger and resentment.
The "instinct to scapegoat and belittle threatens to turn us into a backward-looking people", he said.
Earlier, as Mr Trump attended a Republican party policy lunch in Capitol Hill, a protester threw Russian flags at the President.
Mr Corker got into his spat with Mr Trump over the President's proposed tax cut.
The Republican senator for Tennessee said the White House should leave it to Congress to work out how to slice $1trn (£761bn) from the government's income.
It came as a Reuters/IPSOS poll found that 63% of Americans said reducing the deficit should take priority over corporate tax cuts.
The President has previously upset other senior members of his own party, including former Presidential candidate and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, whom he attacked for failing to force through a replacement for Obamacare.
Both thanked Mr Flake after his remarks and said they looked forward to working with him for the remaining 18 months before his term was up, with Mr McCain describing him as a man of "integrity, honour and decency".
on Mr Trump's administration last week.