Flake calls out Trump over ‘treason’ remark
Sen. Jeff Flake, one of President Donald Trump’s most persistent GOP critics, returned to the Senate floor Tuesday to give Trump another tongue-lashing, this time for joking that Democrats who didn’t stand and applaud during his State of the Union address were “treasonous.”
Flake, an Arizona Republican who is retiring this year after he finishes his first Senate term, reminded Trump that “words matter” and that “respect is earned not commanded.”
“Have we arrived at such a place of numb acceptance that we have nothing to say when a president of the United States casually suggests that those who choose not to stand or applaud his speech are guilty of treason? I certainly hope not,” Flake said during his four-minute speech.
Flake dismissed the White House’s defense that Trump made the “vile remark” tongue-in-cheek.
“I have seen the president’s most ardent defenders use the now-weary argument that the president’s comments were meant as a joke, just sarcasm, only tongue-in-cheek,” Flake said. “But treason is not a punchline, Mr. President.”
Flake added: “Our Democratic colleagues love this country as much as we do. To suggest otherwise is simply unconscionable.”
Speaking Monday in Ohio, Trump said Democrats at his Jan. 30 address were “un-American.”
“Somebody said ‘treasonous.’ I mean, yeah, I guess. Why not?” Trump said. “Can we call that treason? Why not. They certainly didn’t seem to love our country very much.”
Flake announced that he would not seek re-election with a hard-hitting Oct. 24 speech criticizing Trump. His latest remarks are part of an ongoing series of Senate floor speeches, including a Jan. 17 speech defending the media from Trump’s relentless attacks on its credibility.
“As members of Congress, we must never accept undignified discourse as normal because of the requirements of tribal party politics,” Flake said Tuesday. “None of this behavior should ever be regarded as normal. We must never allow ourselves to lapse into thinking that this is just the way things are now.
“We will get through this period. And when we do, we will look back on the destruction of our discourse and the attacks on our democratic values as nothing but a tragedy.”
Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, responded to Flake with a put-down.
“I don’t really care what Senator Flake has to say,” Sanders told reporters. “I don’t think his constituents do either, and I think that’s why his numbers are in the tank.