While addressing a room full of journalists during a news conference Wednesday, President Donald Trump took a shot at the soon-to-be exiting Sen. Jeff Flake, saying he "retired" Flake.
Trump's words came in response to a question about how he said retirements among the GOP lawmakers in the House of Representatives made it very difficult for him this election cycle.
"Who's fault is it that there were so many retirements?" a reporter asked, bringing up Flake and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who is also not seeking re-election.
"In Jeff Flake's case, it's me, pure and simple," Trump said. "I retired him. I'm very proud of it. I did the country a great service. He is retired. I'd like to call it another word, but we're going to treat him with great respect."
"Jeff Flake, that's another beauty."
It's no secret the two didn't see eye-to-eye. Flake has spoken out publicly against Trump a handful of times. He even published what the New York Times called an anti-Trump book.
In a piece he wrote for The Washington Post a day after the midterm elections, Flake said with the government divided again as Democrats take over the House, it will force the parties to work together. But Republicans, he said, "must move beyond the cult of Trump’s personality."
"There is only one real way forward, of course," Flake wrote. "But it has to start with Republicans believing in something greater than President Trump again."
Flake announced he would not be seeking re-election back in October of 2017, opening the seat for one of the biggest midterm races in the country.
The race between Democrat Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally for Arizona's other Senate seat was still too close to call Wednesday.
