Trump could put US 'on path to WWIII'

US President Donald Trump came under attack from a top member of his own Republican party on Sunday, with Senator Bob Corker telling The New York Times that the president's threats toward other countries could put America "on the path to World War III."

In the Times interview, Corker accused the president of running his administration like a "reality show," a barb alluding to Trump's previous television activities as host of the game show "The Apprentice."

"He concerns me," Corker said. "He would have to concern anyone who cares about our nation."

Long-running feud

Corker, a former Trump ally who chairs the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has in recent months turned into one of the president's most outspoken Republican critics. The two men are involved in a vitriolic and public feud on social media that lays bare profound rifts within the Republic party, where few have openly dared to defy the president.

Trump on Sunday unleashed a tirade of tweets against Corker, saying that Corker had decided against running for re-election in 2018 because he lacked the "guts" and that he was "largely responsible for the horrendous" nuclear deal with Iran.

Corker's response was stinging, suggesting that the president wasn't being properly supervised in a White House that had been turned into an "adult day care center."

The spat could be detrimental to Trump's legislative agenda, as Corker's voice is vital regarding not only the nuclear deal with Iran, which the president wants to scrap, but also passing tax reform.

Read more:  What is the Iran nuclear deal?                      

Former favorite

The faltering relationship between Trump and Corker, who was reportedly once considered as a potential secretary of state, took a turn for the worse in August after Trump made much-criticized remarks about violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. Corker said the president had failed to demonstrate the stability and competence essential for his job.

The feud deepened last week when Trump seemed to withdraw his confidence in Secretary of State Rex Tillerson after Tillerson attempted to find channels for dialogue with North Korea. Trump tweeted that Tillerson was "wasting his time trying to negotiate."

In an apparent reference to Trump, Corker told reporters on Wednesday that the secretary of state was not getting the support he needed from above, calling Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chief of Staff John Kelly "people who help separate our country from chaos." 

tj/kms (AFP, AP)