Trump aides ‘keep folders documenting his critics’ comments’
Aides reportedly use the folders to sway Mr Trump's support away from past critics, like Republican Senator Bob Corker
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Aides for Donald Trump are said to keep folders containing examples of attacks made against the president by both Republicans and others.
These folders include criticisms from Senator Bob Corker, according to the Washington Post, with aides using Mr Corker's past comments about the president “debasing” the country to remind Mr Trump not to support the Tennessee Republican if he decided to re-enter the 2018 race.
They allegedly told the President that if he supported Mr Corker all the Senator’s attacks about Mr Trump’s “name calling” and saying "the president has great difficulty with the truth on many issues" would come back into the spotlight.
Mr Corker announced earlier this week that he is sticking to his decision not to run for re-election, which he had made in September 2017.
He had not received any public support from the White House or Mr Trump and, the newspaper reported, had been told by fellow Republicans he had no shot of re-claiming his seat without Mr Trump’s support.
Some felt that Mr Trump’s promised “neutrality” in the Tennessee Senate race would have been enough for Mr Corker to make a successful run, the newspaper reported.
The pair had squared off in the wake of Mr Corker’s retirement announcement when the Senator said Mr Trump was not being a good role model for the nation.
"We have young people who for the first time are watching a president stating absolute non-truth non-stop, personalising things in the way that he does, and it’s very sad for our nation," Mr Corker said to CNN in October 2017.
The President took to Twitter and said the Senator “‘begged" me to endorse him for re-election in Tennessee. I said "NO"’.
He also referred to him as “Liddle’ Bob Corker” and said he “couldn't get elected dog catcher in Tennessee” in subsequent tweets.
Mr Trump also tweeted that Mr Corker is “the incompetent head of the Foreign Relations Committee, & look how poorly the U.S. has done”.
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and Mr Trump has renewed what was a rocky relationship with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of late in a bid for the party to hold that power.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments