Sen. Jeff Flake told Georgia Public Broadcasting on Wednesday that President Trump is "inviting" a 2020 primary challenge because of "the direction he's headed right now," per CNN.
- His quote: "I think he could govern in a way that he wouldn't. But, I think that the way that — the direction he's headed right now, just kinda drilling down on the base rather than trying to expand the base — I think he's inviting one."
- Why it matters: Flake is up for re-election in 2018, and has been one of Trump's most vocal critics from within the party. Trump has gone after the Arizona senator, calling him "weak" and "toxic" on Twitter, and tweeting out support for one of Flake's 2018 challengers, Kelli Ward.
- One more thing: Politico reported that before Trump's Phoenix rally, he met privately with two potential Flake challengers, Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit and former state GOP Chairman Robert Graham.