WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump continued attacking Republican Sen. Bob Corker, belittling the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman over his stark criticisms of the president as Trump's allies called for the senator to step down.
Trump resorted to name-calling on Twitter, as is his preference, labeling the 5-foot-7-inch Tennessee senator "Liddle' Bob Corker."
Critics say Trump's tirades against a growing list of top Republicans, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, are alienating the key members of his party needed to advance tax reform and the rest of the president's legislative agenda on Capitol Hill.
But White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended the president on Tuesday, pointing the finger at Congress.
"I don't think he's alienating anyone," Sanders told reporters. "I think Congress has alienated themselves by not actually getting the job done that the people of this country elected them to do."
The failure of Republicans to advance their agenda amid infighting and Trump's own unorthodox leadership style has left each side blaming the other.
Some of the president's top allies, including former chief strategist and current Breitbart News editor Stephen K. Bannon, have said Corker should resign for failing to deliver for the president.
Corker announced last month that he would not seek re-election next year. Bannon had already been cultivating primary challengers to Corker and other Republicans viewed as insufficiently supportive of Trump.
Asked if Corker should leave office sooner, Sanders declined to weigh in, saying that is "not for us to decide."
