GOP Sen. Bob Corker: Trump is threatening World War III

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) is worried that President Trump's threats against leaders of other countries could put the United States "on the path to World War III," he told The New York Times on Sunday.
Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump treats the presidency like a "reality show" and acts "like he's doing The Apprentice or something. He concerns me. He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation." Every day at the White House, "it's a situation of trying to contain him," Corker continued, and the only people saving us all are "the good guys" like Defense Secretary James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who are "able to talk him down when he gets spun up."
Corker is not running for re-election, and earlier Sunday, Trump tweeted that Corker "begged" him for an endorsement and decided to retire after Trump said "NO." Corker denied this to the Times, and said over four conversations, Trump urged him to run again, even calling him last week to ask Corker to reconsider. "I don't know why the president tweets out things that are not true," Corker said. "You know he does it, everyone knows he does it, but he does." Despite his harsh words and a Sunday morning tweet calling Trump's Oval Office an "adult day care center," Corker said he does like Trump and wishes him "no harm."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
There is a 'third state' between life and death
Under the radar Cells can develop new abilities after their source organism dies
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Is it worth getting an interest-only mortgage?
The Explainer Your monthly payments may be cheaper but the full mortgage amount will need to be paid back eventually
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 6, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to Congress
Speed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spat
Speed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling markets
Speed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firings
speed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meeting
Speed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrants
speed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cuts
Speed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published