U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake is responding to President Donald Trump’s comments describing some members of Congress as “un-American” and “treasonous” for not clapping during the State of the Union address.

Speaking on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Flake emphasized treason is not a punchline.

"The president said that the State of the Union address was meant to promote and encourage unity in government. Then why follow up less than a week later with this divisive and harmful rhetoric?” Flake said.

Flake said applause signals approval of an idea, not loyalty to one’s country.

The senator announced last year that he’d had enough of the current administration and will not seek re-election this November.