On the Senate floor, Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., made a political retirement speech, in which he announced that he would not run for reelection in 2018. He also criticized the Republican Party for the direction it is moving in under President Donald Trump. Flake is critical of the President’s behavior but supports his political decisions.

In a statewide Arizona survey, Flake would lose his seat if he were to be challenged by a pro-Trump candidate or his assumed Democratic opponent, congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema, if the people were to vote for the senator seat. In addition, Flake admits that he knew that he would lose the support of Republican primary voters if he spoke up about the current president.

Flake has also cooperated several times with Democrats, which is discouraged by his state’s party members, many of whom are uncompromising Republicans.

In the end, Flake “couldn’t sleep at night having to embrace the President or condoning his behavior or being okay with some of his positions.”

Click HERE to watch Senator Flake’s full remarks.