Their departures might end up being the front end of a reformer movement, but for Republican Sens. Jeff Flake and Bob Corker right now, breaking with the president means packing their bags, CNN reports.
From the vantage point of the White House, the latest retirement announcement from Flake of Arizona, on Tuesday is all part of draining the swamp.
President Donald Trump was in "high spirits" in the wake of Flake's announcement, CNN reported.
"I think the people in Tennessee and Arizona supported this president," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. "I don't think that the numbers are in the favor of either of those two senators in their states. So this is probably the right decision."
For the rest of the Republican lawmakers eager to pass something substantive with Trump still in the White House, it's on to tax reform.
"The party is currently being redefined in Donald Trump's image with his priorities and his tone and way of doing things," Matt Latimer, a former aide to President George W. Bush, told CNN. "Right now, the majority of the base seems to be in favor of acquiescing. There are very few willing to revolt right now."
Corker, R-Tenn., announced nearly a month ago that he would not seek re-election and he has been sparring with Trump ever since, with another flare-up Tuesday that was overshadowed only by Flake's announcement.
Where Corker was an early adopter of then candidate Trump, Flake was part of the "Never Trump" Republicans. He staked out his position and his poll numbers told him exactly how Arizonans felt about it — 18 percent approval rating.
"Today's announcement from Sen. Flake that he would not run for re-election is a monumental win for the entire Trump movement and should serve as another warning shot to the failed Republican establishment that backed Flake and others like them that their time is up," Andy Surabian, who runs the pro-Trump Great America Alliance, told CNN.