The White House seemed to approve of the decision of two prominent Republican senators to retire after their current terms, with press secretary Sarah Sanders pointing to their dwindling support.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., announced Tuesday afternoon he will step aside in January 2019, which came one month after Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the same. Both men cited their disagreements with President Donald Trump and how he conducts himself as one reason why they will depart Washington.
"I think the people in Tennessee and Arizona supported this president," 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.
"The voters of these individual senators' states are speaking in loud volumes. They're not likely to be reelected. That shows the support is more behind the president than the two individuals."
Trump has waged a public feud with Corker for several weeks, mostly on Twitter. The two traded barbs Tuesday ahead of Trump's lunch meeting with Republican senators.
Sanders was asked why Trump is engaging with Corker when he might be better served working on his agenda.
"The people didn't elect somebody to be weak; they elected somebody to be strong," Sanders said. "When he gets hit, he's going to hit back. I think Sen. Corker knows that. Maybe he's trying to get a headline or two on the way out the door."
One of Corker's criticisms of Trump was he is conducting a "debasing of our nation" and he might be remembered for breaking down America's relationships and resorting to name-calling.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Flake never mentioned Trump by name but was referring to him when he said the "flagrant disregard of truth and decency" is undermining American democracy.
Sanders fired back by saying Trump will be remembered for his accomplishments.
"I think history will look at this president as someone that helped defeat ISIS, who built an economy that was stronger than it's been in several decades, that brought unemployment to a 16-year low, and created over 1.7 million jobs since being elected," Sanders said. "I think those are the things that people care about, not some petty comments from Sen. Corker and Sen. Flake."