Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Sunday that many conservative Republicans “just can't support” a candidate like former President Trump.
“I think Republicans especially believe in the rule of law,” Flake said on ABC's Martha Raddatz's “This Week.” “And it's hard to support a candidate who loses an election and uses the power of the president to try to overturn the election.”
“That's completely different from respecting the rule of law,” Flake added. “So I know a lot of conservative Republicans feel the same way I do: I can't support a candidate like that.”
Flake, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, announced Sunday that he will support Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
“Having spent the past three years overseas as a U.S. ambassador, I have seen up close that we have very real enemies overseas,” Flake said. stated in a statement Posted on social platform X. “We also have essential and vital allies.”
“I want to support presidential candidates who understand and appreciate differences,” he said.
Flake also addressed the vice president's foreign policy abilities, saying he believes Harris is “ready” to serve as president and that she “understands that we have real enemies overseas.” ” he said.
“But we also have essential allies, especially those who we need to support and work with to defeat the threat of Russia, certainly, and the growing threat of China,” he added. “It was really tough watching the debate the other day and hearing that the former president couldn't even support Ukraine.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
