A Republican National Committee member is warning that Mitt Romney’s op-ed is the first shot in an attempt to up-end the party’s presidential nomination in 2020.
Romney authored a column for the Washington Post indicating Trump had failed to live up to the “mantle” of the presidency, and he would not hesitate to call out any “significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions” by the President in the future.
While the media is hailing the effort as an assertion of his independence, others are fighting back, and Romney’s commentary may serve as a preview or the actual catalyst to starting a Republican civil war.
One committeeman believes it could actually lead to Romney attempting to steal the nomination in 2020.
Trump’s Allies Respond
The President responded to the Utah Senator’s comments by reminding him that he lost a presidential election, while Trump won his, for a reason. Trump would add that Romney needs to get on the same team with his fellow Republicans.
Unlike most battles, however, allies of the President notably stood up to Romney’s back-stabbing, many of them being integral players in the 2020 election.
Brad Parscale, Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, mocked the Senator’s inability “to save this nation” in 2012, when he lost to Barack Obama.
Even Ronna McDaniel, Romney’s niece, blitzed him with commentary indicating that her uncle’s treacherous words were “disappointing and unproductive” and feed “into what the Democrats and the media want.”
POTUS is attacked and obstructed by the MSM media and Democrats 24/7. For an incoming Republican freshman senator to attack @realdonaldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Democrats and media want and is disappointing and unproductive. https://t.co/ArhI7Bi7bo
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) January 2, 2019
Perhaps sensing that people involved in the upcoming 2020 battle are a bit ticked off with Romney, Jevon O.A. Williams, an RNC member who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, is warning that there is something more nefarious at work.
Williams Warns Romney Is Plotting a Takeover
Williams, in a letter to 167 other RNC members, indicated that the Romney op-ed was an act of “calculated political treachery” and that he may use “loopholes” to challenge the President.
“No Republican president opposed for re-nomination has ever won re-election,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, loopholes in the rules governing the 2020 re-nomination campaign are enabling these so-called Republicans to flirt with the possibility of contested primaries and caucuses.”
Williams adds that Romney doesn’t even have to be successful with his bid in order to derail President Trump’s re-election and throw the White House to the Democrats in 2020.
“While President Trump would win re-nomination it wouldn’t come quick and it wouldn’t be inexpensive,” he warned. “Any contested re-nomination campaign—even a forlorn hope—would only help Democrats.”
Williams then urged his fellow RNC committee members to close those loopholes and declare at their annual Winter Meeting that Trump will be the Republican nominee in 2020.
“The so-called Republicans seeking to defeat President Trump have used our silence to advance their cause,” he said. “It’s time to make our voice heard.”
Is it time for Trump’s supporters to finally put a halt to obstructionist Republican foes within their own party?
