The diminutive and retiring Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) has told the Tennessean he turned down an ambassadorship from the Trump White House; however, it appears no one from the White House has confirmed the offer was even made.
Critics of Corker might be wondering if this isn’t yet another instance of trying to pad his resume, as opposed to his real estate portfolio.
From the Tennessean:
The Trump administration wanted U.S. Sen. Bob Corker to join its diplomatic ranks.
But the retiring Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman declined, saying he turned down the chance to become the next U.S. ambassador to Australia.
Even if Corker were offered the slot, it seems clear he was not the front runner and came in at least second, at best. The real star of the story should be Adm. Harry Harris, who was raised in Tennessee and is a graduate of Crossville High School, sources tell The Tennessee Star, and who Trump had chosen for the spot, before bumping him up to what is a more important posting, especially given current developments in both North and south Korea.
Trump previously named Adm. Harry Harris his nominee as the envoy to Australia. But in April, the administration pulled that nomination in a bid to make Harris the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
On Friday, the president formally nominated Harris for the South Korea position.
Perhaps the president found the Korea posting just a bit over Corker’s head? It seems odd that the report would put Corker in the running along with Sen. Jeff Flake, given Flake’s loud and frequent criticisms of the President. In the end, save for the Trump-friendly Orrin Hatch, one is left to wonder if this is really a list of potential nominees, or a clutch of losers who never had a prayer of being nominated for anything by this administration.
The Australian Financial Review reported earlier Monday that Corker was a leading contender for the job, along with fellow retiring GOP senators Orrin Hatch of Utah and Jeff Flake of Arizona.
