Jeff Flake ready to move past campaign feud, wants to work with Donald Trump

PHOENIX — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is ready to move past his campaign feud with Donald Trump and work with the president-elect, he said Thursday.

“I take him at his word and we’ll move ahead,” the senator said of Trump’s call for unity in his victory speech.

Flake told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos that he does not doubt Trump will work with he and others who opposed his successful run to the White House.

“You need to work with the Senate,” he said. “We’ve all been elected to the Senate, just like he was elected to the White House.”

Flake had been an outspoken opponent of the president-elect since the pair clashed at a GOP unity meeting earlier this year prior to the party’s convention in Cleveland.

Throughout the election season, Flake issued numerous calls for the Republican Party to focus its spending on Senate races rather than the presidential race.

Flake said Trump’s rhetoric could cause Arizona to vote Democratic, though the state wound up voting Republican.

But even after the war of words, Flake congratulated Trump on his win this week with a humorous tweet.

Congrats to Pres. Elect Trump on a big win and a gracious and healing speech. I look forward to working with him. Now, back to eating crow..

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 9, 2016

The senator said he expects he and Trump will find common ground and issues to work on together, but doesn’t expect all disagreements to cease.

“There will be disagreements, no doubt,” he said. “On areas of trade, for example, I think NAFTA has served us well. I think it would be devastating to the state (Arizona) if it were repealed.”