The President lashed out at Mitt Romney after the Senator authored an opinion column for The Washington Post indicating Trump had failed to live up to the “mantle” of the presidency.
“His conduct over the past two years …” Romney asserted, “is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.”
Romney, aside from stating that the President had diminished the position, suggested that he had done so by making racist and bigoted comments.
“I do not intend to comment on every tweet or fault,” Romney wrote. “But I will speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions.”
The line of attack is unfounded and reminiscent of something you’d expect to see from the resistance party, not a Republican who gleefully accepted the President’s endorsement during the midterm elections.
Trump Fights Back
President Trump, never one to back down from a good battle, took to social media to hammer Romney for the comments, alleging that he might be another “Flake” who needs to get his priorities straight.
Trump then, oh so gently, reminded Romney that while he may criticize his handling of the ‘mantle of the office,’ at least he actually ascended to that mantle in the first place.
“I won big, and he didn’t,” Trump declared.
Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not. Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2019
Romney plays on one team and one team only – team Mitt.
Trump Knew He’d Flip On Him Again
The first sentence in Trump’s response seems to indicate he knew the Utah senator would change his stripes again, he just didn’t expect him to turn so quickly.
Romney’s commentary on Trump – from before the election, to when he needed his support, and now back to today – are the flailings of an epic flip-flopper.
Because nothing is more appealing to Republican voters than a guy who is happy to have Trump’s support in the campaign, then turns on Trump after the election and writes a nasty piece about him for the Washington Post. https://t.co/pFt8rv29m3
— Brit Hume (@brithume) January 2, 2019
Even prior to his Senate run, Romney had some choice words for Mr. Trump, hinting that he never would have accepted an endorsement for his own run at the White House in 2012 if he’d only known about his allegedly racist ways.
If Trump had said 4 years ago the things he says today about the KKK, Muslims, Mexicans, disabled, I would NOT have accepted his endorsement
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 3, 2016
Mitt also took the occasion to bash Trump as a phony and predict that Hillary would likely beat him based on the polling.
Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. (1/2)
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 3, 2016
Trump relishes any poll that reflects what he thinks of himself. But polls are also saying that he will lose to Hillary Clinton
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 3, 2016
Romney also once referred to Trump as “a con man, a fake and a phony” who was “playing us for suckers.”
Iowa! Didn’t think you people were nutbags. Watch Mitt Romney’s speech on the danger of Trump #Cyclones #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/0ZJCaBNtBi
— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@riotwomennn) November 6, 2016
Trump Took the Higher Road
There was a larger goal at play when Trump endorsed Romney for outgoing-Senator Orrin Hatch’s seat.
He, unlike Romney, realized that the best-assembled team of Republican leaders in the Senate might include some who don’t quite see eye-to-eye with him. Rather than attack, he endorsed Romney, refusing to let an old feud stand in the way of his ‘Make America Great Again’ agenda.
Romney has responded in kind by stabbing him in the back.
“A president should unite us and inspire us to follow ‘our better angels,'” Romney wrote.
Romney’s op-ed only helps Democrats in border wall fight
It takes a true leader like President Trump to remind him that Republicans, especially during this shutdown fight over the border wall, need to stand together for the American people. That’s the unity this nation needs. That’s the inspiration necessary for a better nation.
Not a flimsy effort to attack the President using leftist talking points in a liberal newspaper.
What Romney did here is important to note: in the middle of a tough negotiation over opening the government, Romney split Republican unity just when President Trump needs it to fight for the border wall.
Romney could have waited to drop his article. Instead, he did Nancy Pelosi a huge favor, showing a disunited Republican front while Democrats have joined together behind Pelosi to stop Trump’s border wall funding demand.
This will ultimately be seen as a huge miscalculation by Romney. Let’s hope it doesn’t tank Trump’s plan for making a deal for border wall funding and opening the government back up.
