President Donald Trump’s personal conduct hurts the country, Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee told "CBS This Morning" on Wednesday.
Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is leaving Congress in January, said what is particularly frustrating is Trump’s behavior is “unnecessary. It's an unforced error" and it’s “self-evident” that his divisiveness is intentional.
Corker has had numerous clashes with Trump, most recently concerning the administration's muted response to Saudi Arabia's killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
However, Corker does admit he supports many of the president’s policies.
"I love the deregulation that has taken place,” he said. “I love the animal spirits that have been released in our country… I love the number of judges that have been confirmed.”
When asked if it hurts anything that Trump has peculiarities in his personality if his policies are so agreeable, Corker said, "I speak out because, yes, I do think there's a cost. I think there's a cost to our young people throughout the country. I think there's a cost to just the way people are relating to each other."
Corker said, however, that for those Republicans staying in Congress from red states like his own, it "would be bad for your health" to be critical of Trump
"I've been told by candidates who did run in campaigns this year that no one asked them about any issues,” Corker said. Republican supporters “want to know one thing: 'Are you with Trump?' I don't think it's healthy."
Corker said he is not sure what he's going to do next, but didn't rule out running for office again and admitted that he does sometimes think about becoming president.
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