Donald Trump Jr. slams Corker’s ‘cult-like’ comment
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump Jr. took issue Thursday with Sen. Bob Corker’s remarks that the GOP is becoming “cult-like” in its support of President Donald Trump.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” the president’s oldest son said on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. “You know what, if it’s a cult, it’s because they like what my father’s doing. You see real Americans actually winning for a change, conservatives actually getting things done.”
“Americans want to see someone who’s actually going to have conviction,” Trump Jr. continued. “Not just talk about it, you know with great sound bites and then when it comes game time, they sit there and fold. They want someone who’s going to be like my father and fight and actually want to win and how about actually want to win elections.”
Trump Jr. was responding to Corker’s comments Wednesday that Republicans “are in a strange place” in their support of the president.
“It’s almost, it’s becoming a cultish thing, isn’t it?” the Tennessee Republican told reporters in Washington. “It’s not a good place for any party to end up with a cult-like situation as it relates to a president that happens to be of, purportedly, of the same party.”
Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tempered his remarks by saying it’s not fair to criticize of every member of his party because some GOP lawmakers are willing to stand up to Trump.
But, “Is leadership in general not wishing to poke the bear? Absolutely because it’s all about the next election, right?” he said.
Earlier this week, Corker blasted Senate Republicans during a fiery speech on the Senate floor for refusing to give a vote on bipartisan legislation that he is sponsoring to give Congress the chance to accept or reject tariffs imposed under the guise of national security.
Republicans are afraid to give his amendment a vote because they fear angering Trump, he said.
“Gosh, ‘we might poke the bear’ is the language I’ve been hearing in the hallways,” he said.
Trump Jr.’s interview on Thursday marked the second time he has responded to Corker’s comments. Shortly after Corker made his initial remarks, Trump Jr. took to Twitter on Wednesday to defend his dad.
“Not a cult at all,” he wrote.