Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) announced on Tuesday that he won’t be running for re-election next year and took to the U.S. Senate floor to issue some strong rebukes of President Donald Trump and the current state of political affairs.
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Flake warned in his speech that “children are watching” and told President Donald Trump that he has had “enough” of his behavior, fervently pushing back against Trump’s rhetoric since assuming office.
BREAKING: Republican Sen. Jeff Flake bemoans 'flagrant disregard of truth and decency' in politics, says 'heaven help us'
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 24, 2017
“With respect and humility I must say that we have fooled ourselves for long enough that a pivot to governing is right around the corner, a return to civility and stability right behind it,” he said. “By now, we all know better than that.”
Watch these comments below:
Senator Jeff Flake: “When the next generation asks us, ‘Why didn’t you do something?' … Mr. President, I rise today to say 'enough.'” pic.twitter.com/y9ap5pzTDt
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) October 24, 2017
And Flake wasn’t done there.
He also told Trump directly during the speech that he won’t be “complicit or silent” and that he won’t compromise his principles to stay in power:
“Mr. President, I will not be complicit, or silent,” Republican Senator Jeff Flake says as he announces he won’t run for re-election pic.twitter.com/Uu4nbx2dvA
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) October 24, 2017
“Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior [has become excused as simply] ‘telling it like it is’ when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified,” Flake added.
He called such behavior coming from the top of government — Trump and the executive branch —”dangerous to a democracy” a “corruption of the spirit” and “weakness.”
Sen. Jeff Flake: "Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior" has become excused as "telling it like it is" https://t.co/km12Yq1XNT
— CNN (@CNN) October 24, 2017
Flake also questioned whether Republicans would accept similar behaviors from Democrats.
Sen. Jeff Flake: "Were the shoe on the other foot, would we Republicans meekly accept such behavior" from Democrats? https://t.co/fWdchgmTyO
— CNN (@CNN) October 24, 2017
Watch the full address: