The White House on Thursday ripped GOP Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) for questioning President Trump's stability and competence, calling it a "ridiculous and outrageous" claim.

Last week, Corker lamented that Trump “has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence, that he needs to demonstrate in order for him to be successful.”

When asked about the criticism, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders swatted aside the harsh words from the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I think that’s a ridiculous and outrageous claim and doesn’t dignify a response from this podium,” Sanders said Thursday at the White House briefing.

Corker made his remarks at a Rotary Club meeting back in his home state of Tennessee days after politicians on both sides criticized Trump for his reaction to the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., where a counterprotester died.

The senator’s comments raised eyebrows both because of his stature within Congress as well as his past support for Trump. Corker is up for reelection in 2018.

Trump has not responded directly to the criticism.