White House In 'Downward Spiral,' Corker Says; Cooper Agrees, Alexander Says President Can Cause 'Earthquakes'

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and frequent ally of President Donald Trump, said the White House is in a "downward spiral" following allegations that the president shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats.

After The Washington Post's bombshell story that the president revealed classified details relating to a crucial intelligence source in the fight against ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at a closed-door meeting in the White House last Wednesday, Corker offered some of the strongest criticism yet of the administration from a high-ranking Republican.

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"The White House has got to do something soon to bring itself under control and in order. It's got to happen," Corker said, according to Bloomberg reporter Sahil Kapur, who tweeted Corker's comments Monday. "Obviously they're in a downward spiral right now and they've got to figure out a way to come to grips (with) all that's happening."

In a later interview with USA Today, Corker expounded.

"To compromise a source is something that you just don't do," he said. "That's why we keep the information that we get from intelligence sources so close...to prevent that from happening."

This morning, Rep. Jim Cooper, a Nashville Democrat, said he agreed with Corker's assessment.

"(T)he White House seems to be in a 'downward spiral.' Everything about the Russian visit with Trump went wrong. It's tragic when we cannot trust our own president with our worst enemy," he said in a statement.

Later, Sen. Lamar Alexander, like Corker a Republican, issued a less direct statement.

"Those working in the White House would do well to remember that just a little tilt there can create earthquakes out in the country and around the world," he said.