Republican Sen. Bob Corker is seriously questioning whether President Trump knows how to be a statesman. Trump "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful," the Texas senator told reporters at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Thursday.
Corker was especially dismayed over Trump's rhetoric in regards to the racist display in Charlottesville, VA last weekend. While the president did denounce the KKK and white nationalism Monday from the White House, the media accused him of backtracking the very next day.
"There's blame on both sides" for the carnage, Trump insisted at Trump Tower Tuesday, again failing to directly condemn the white supremacists who organized the deadly rally.
"He also recently has not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation," Corker said. "He has not demonstrated that he understands what has made this nation great and what it is today."
"Morning Joe" anchor Joe Scarborough thanked Corker for his comments, calling him a true patriot.
Thank you, Senator Corker, for standing up for American values.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) August 18, 2017
????????????
Trump has been hard pressed to find Republicans willing to stand behind him after his Charlottesville response. Most every top Republican, including Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, Mitt Romney, etc., have either expressed their disappointment or asked him to apologize.
It seems only his vice president, Mike Pence, has expressed his support - at least publicly.
"I stand with the president," Pence said during a news conference in Chile this week.