But Mr. Flake, choosing the Senate floor for his fierce denunciation, appeared to issue a direct challenge to his party. Without mentioning Mr. Trump by name, Mr. Flake, 54, took direct aim at the president’s policies, notably his isolationist tendencies, but also his behavior and that of his aides. He had already touched on these themes in a book he published in August that was highly critical of the president.
Read Jeff Flake’s Speech
“We must stop pretending that the conduct of some in our executive branch are normal,” Mr. Flake said. “They are not normal. Reckless, outrageous and undignified behavior has become excused and countenanced as telling it like it is when it is actually just reckless, outrageous and undignified. And when such behavior emanates from the top of our government, it is something else. It is dangerous to a democracy.”
“It is often said that children are watching,” he continued. “Well, they are. And what are we going to do about that? When the next generation asks us, why didn’t you do something? Why didn’t you speak up? What are we going to say?”
As he spoke, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, Mr. McCain and Mr. Corker sat listening on the Senate floor. The speech was delivered less than an hour after Mr. Trump met with Republican senators for lunch, amiably discussing the party’s push for tax cuts.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said she had not spoken with President Trump about the senator’s announcement, but she was not lamenting Mr. Flake’s decision.
“Based on previous statements and certainly based on the lack of support that he has from the people of Arizona it’s probably a good move,” she said.
Mr. Flake’s decision to step down was, in a sense, a tacit admission that crossing the president had put in him political peril. But in an interview in Phoenix earlier this month, he said he had no regrets, and always knew that crossing the president would be dangerous politically. He reiterated that sentiment on the Senate floor Tuesday.
“We’re not here to simply mark time,” the senator said. “Sustained incumbency is certainly not the point of seeking office, and there are times when we must risk our careers in favor of our principles. Now is such a time.”
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