Flake cites Trump behavior as reason to drop reelection run, leaves possible presidential bid open

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told a National Press Club audience March 15 that his resistance to President Trump's behavior helped persuade him not to seek a second term.

Flake, speaking to a luncheon audience in the Holeman Lounge, read a prepared speech that was highly critical of Trump. But first out of the box during the question and answer period was Club President Andrea Edney's question: "Are you running for president?"

"Next question," Flake said, flashing his famed smile, then added, "Running for president is not in my plans. But I'm not ruling anything out."

Later Flake said he would have liked a second term in the Senate -- he was up for reelection this fall -- "but not at the cost of agreeing with the President's policies and behavior."

"For me I felt a responsibility to stand up," he said even though some members of his party were content to "go along." "For me," Flake said, " I couldn't do that."

Flake said the president sought to discourage the crowd at a Pennsylvania rally from booing Korth Korea's Ki Jong-Un but jeered the news media and taunted a member of Congress for having a "low IQ."

Flake said Rex Tillerson served his country as secretary of state "as best he could" but was fired by a Tweet.

"That is not right," Flake said. "I hope that kind of behavior changes."

"We will get through this, and when we do, there will be much work to repair the damage," Flake said. "We will once again make clear to our allies that we are allies, and we will not ever again be afraid to remind friend and foe alike that is is our values that make America America."

The senator also said he did not believe that impeachment proceedings should start. "I don't believe that what the president has done rises to that level, not at this point," he added.

Flake, a former Mormon missionary in South Africa, was asked how his faith played into his political life.

"Anybody who professes to have a faith, I think that includes their actions and hopefully makes them a better person. I know my religion has had an influence on me, Flake said, "to make bad men good men, and good men better"

Flake, father of five, was accompanied by his wife Cheryl and two of their sons. Edney's final question, which she said revealingly came from the head table, was to ask Flake who was his favorite son.

"I may not be very smart, but I'm smart enough not to answer that question," Flake said. Then, as the family exited, Flake, flashing his smile again, tapped his younger son, Dallin, on the head with a paper he had in his hand.