Sen. Bob Corker Thursday said he'll take President Donald Trump's announcement that he's seeking re-election with a "grain of salt," and that it's far too early for him to say he'll support Trump if he does run.
"You know, who knows whether President Trump is even going to run," the Tennessee Republican told CNN "New Day" co-host Alisyn Camerota, who reminded him that Trump has announced his reelection bid and has already raised $4 million.
"Surely CNN is not taking for face value everything that comes out of the White House all of a sudden?" said Corker, laughing. "I have no idea whether the president runs for re-election, nor what the field will be on the Republican side, so I think it's way too early to weigh in on who one might support."
"Are you saying that you're not sure that President Trump is going to run?" Camerota asked him.
"Oh, I'm definitely not sure he's going to run," Corker replied.
He also dismissed the $4 million figure as a "speck of sand in the ocean" when it comes to campaigns.
"Any president that's 18 months into their term, or 15 or 16 or whatever it is, is likely to say that they'll run for reelection," Corker said. "They do not want to be viewed as a lame duck, so, you know, I take it with a grain of salt. It's just another thing going across the Internet."
Actually, Trump's campaign disclosed on Sunday that it has already raised $10 leaving his re-election war chest with $28 million in cash,
When asked if he'll support Trump as a party nominee, Corker said he wants to know who else is in the field.
"We could be talking about other things," said Corker. "I have no idea who's going to run for president in 2020 and I'm not about to say who I will support for that, so we have no idea who's going to run. Whether the president runs again or not is questionable, candidly."
"Why wouldn't he?" asked Camerota.
"I don't know," Corker responded. "Why would me. He might, he might not, Who knows? When it comes time ask me that question. When we know that for real papers have been filed, and we know who the field is, I'd be more than glad to come forward as I always do and tell you what I think."
Earlier Thursday, CNN reported that several other senators, including Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, Tennessee Sen.
Lamar Alexander and South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford are among the Republicans who are holding back on officially supporting Trump in 2020.
Also on Thursday, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson also refused to endorse Trump at this time, saying that "it could be a completely different world by 2020."
He told "New Day" co-host Chris Cuomo that he'd asked him a "gotcha question," and he thinks "it's unusual that members of the media would be talking about the 2020 election in 2018."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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