Civic Register
| 10.25.17

Jeff Flake Announces Retirement, Excoriates Trump

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What’s the story?

In a seventeen minute speech on the Senate Floor Tuesday Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) announced his retirement, excoriated President Trump and took the entirety of the Republican party to task for what he called "complicity." Though others in the GOP — Bob Corker, John McCain and George W. Bush, have leveled similar criticisms at the president, Flake is the first one to call out party leaders.

There’s little else in the news today, and, as usual, Twitter is on fire.

There are those on the left who feel Flake’s stand is too little, too late:

While others on the left called on Flake to follow his words with actions to block Trump’s agenda:

On the right, some were jubilant and insisted Flake only retired because he couldn’t win re-election:

While many on both sides applauded the senator’s words:

What do you think?

Was it a speech for the ages? Should Flake have stayed in the fight and run for re-election? Do his votes for the next 14 months need to counter the president for his words to matter? Are you glad he’s leaving? Or do you fear what his leaving signals about the direction of the GOP?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

— Asha Sanaker