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Senator Flake Criticizes President Trump on Treatment of Allies, Praise for Dictator

The Office of U.S. Senator Jeff Flake
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake

On the Senate floor Wednesday, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona denounced President Donald Trump’s actions following a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Tuesday and recent public criticism of the Canadian Prime Minister.  KAWC’s Maya Springhawk Robnett reports…

U.S. Senator Jeff Flake had strong words for the President, saying the executive branch’s behavior was thoughtless, not normal, and nihilistic.  The Republican spoke out against President Trump’s recent treatment of American allies, referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and praise for the North Korean dictator.

"It is disturbing," said the Senator, "when the American President and his administration is going on about the ‘great personality’ of the murderous dictator Kim Jong-Un or how Kim ‘loves his country very much’ while at the same time calling the Canadian Prime Minister 'obnoxious,'  'weak,' and 'dishonest.'"

"It is disturbing when the American President and his administration is going on about the 'great personality' of the murderous dictator Kim Jong Un." - U.S. Senator Jeff Flake

While Flake has publicly criticized the President, statistics-driven news-and-analysis website FiveThirtyEight reports Flake has voted in line with Trump administration positions more than 84% of the time. 

But today, the Senator said “it is clear that in such an unprecedented situation, words are not enough.”  Flake urged his colleagues to act, saying he and the other members of Congress “demean ourselves and our proper constitutional role when we act like we work for the President.”  

Senator Flake announced last October that he would not be running for reelection this year, in order to better serve his country and his conscience.

Senator Flake's full remarks on the Senate floor can be found below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWASFymu87s&feature=youtu.be

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