Former President Donald Trump issued a statement accusing Senator Mitt Romney of having “abused” fellow Utah Senator Mike Lee and excoriated him for his refusal to make an endorsement in Lee’s re-election bid against ‘Never Trump’ Republican Evan McMullin.
“Mike Lee is an outstanding Senator who has been abused, in an unprecedented way, by a fellow Republican Senator from his own State, something which rarely has happened in political History,” Trump said in a release sent to subscribers of his Save America PAC emails.
“Such an event would only be understandable if Mike did not perform his duties as a United States Senator, but he has, and he has performed them well,” he added.
Romney, in a statement to The Hill, said he was staying out of the race between Lee and McMullin because he is fond of both candidates.
“I’ve worked with Mike a lot and appreciate the work we do together,” he said. “But both are good friends, and I’m going to stay out.”
President Trump weighs in on extremely bizarre Mitt Romney plot to sabotage Republican Party and keep Senate Democrat by running yet another “McMullin” operation. pic.twitter.com/3JcemZ0GqM
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 12, 2022
RELATED: ‘Never-Trump’ Republicans Looking To Form Their Own Party
Romney Won’t Endorse Mike Lee
Mitt Romney’s (R-UT) refusal to step up to the plate and back Lee in his campaign against McMullin has led to accusations that he is, by default, aiding Democrats in maintaining control of the Senate.
Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway called Romney’s non-endorsement a “plot to sabotage (the) Republican party” and “keep (the) Senate Democrat.”
The latest polls show Lee ahead by a mere four points in the Utah race. In a current 50-50 Senate, his victory could be pivotal in deciding which party has control after the 2022 midterms.
Lee, sensing the gravity of the situation, publicly pleaded with Romney to back him.
“Please, get on board,” Lee said, looking directly into the camera during an appearance with Fox News host Tucker Carlson. “Help me win re-election. Help us do that. You can get your entire family to donate to me.”
Senator Mike Lee appears on Tucker to discuss Mitt Romney’s latest subversive efforts within the GOP: “I don’t think Mitt Romney wants Chuck Schumer to continue to be the Majority Leader. If I’m right on that, then get on board. Because that’s exactly what this will lead to.” pic.twitter.com/7jeb4xU70H
— American Firebrand (@FirebrandPAC) October 12, 2022
RELATED: President Trump Taunts Romney Over Coronavirus Test Results
Trump Hammers ‘McMuffin’ Too
Trump’s statement went on to bash McMullin – who he repeatedly refers to as “McMuffin” – and Romney as not being representative of Utah’s values.
“McMuffin does not represent the values of Utah, but neither, as you will see in two years, does Mitt Romney, who refuses to endorse his fellow Republican Senator, Mike Lee,” said Trump.
“Mike should now accept that fact and go on to win a race against a man who should have, based on his failed career as a politician, no chance of winning.”
Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican and Trump loyalist, publicly pleaded with Senator Mitt Romney to endorse his campaign for re-election.
“Please, get on board,” Lee said, looking into the camera and addressing Romney directly. https://t.co/PzrtRYVUpl
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 13, 2022
McMullin, a former CIA agent, has been a fierce critic of the former President.
“Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy,” McMullin told Reuters. “The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new.”
Exclusive: Dozens of former Republican officials who oppose Trump are in talks to form a breakaway third party https://t.co/8pQBUlGbJY 1/6
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 11, 2021
Romney received an endorsement from McMullin for his own Senate bid in Utah in 2018.
Thank you for your service to our state and country, Senator Hatch.
In this seat, we must have a leader prepared to meet the challenges of our day and our future. I hope that leader will be @MittRomney. https://t.co/7k4fXG1pIO
— Evan McMullin ?? (@EvanMcMullin) January 2, 2018
But Romney also got an endorsement from Trump, who recognized the need to elect Republican candidates to the Senate. Romney gratefully accepted Trump’s endorsement.
Thank you Mr. President for the support. I hope that over the course of the campaign I also earn the support and endorsement of the people of Utah.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 20, 2018
Now, however, Trump has said he will not endorse Romney if he runs for re-election in 2024.
“Mike Lee is outstanding and has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” he said. “Mitt Romney and Evan McMuffin can count on the fact that they will never have my Endorsement!”
After accepting Trump’s endorsement for Utah senator in 2018, Romney wrote a scathing op-ed indicating Trump had failed to live up to the “mantle” of the presidency.
Trump has called Romney a “super RINO,” and a “stone-cold loser.”
NEW Trump statement on Romney: “So nice to see RINO Mitt Romney booed off the stage at the Utah Republican State Convention. They are among the earliest to have figured this guy out, a stone cold loser!”
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) May 3, 2021
Reports surfaced this past Spring indicating Romney wears a disguise when venturing out into public as a means to avoid Trump supporters.
.@jmartNYT and @alexburnsNYT report Sen. Mitt Romney wears a disguise in public to avoid being recognized by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
There are more Romney tidbits in their new book “This Will not Pass” #utpolhttps://t.co/1dHszpuGi6
— Bryan “Mike Lindell ghosted me” Schott (@SchottHappens) April 30, 2022
The Senator also ran a fake Twitter account to attack Trump, using the name “Pierre Delecto.”
“As Delecto, Romney, who has become one of President Trump’s most vocal GOP critics, used the account to like critical tweets about the president, while also occasionally defending himself against detractors,” the Washington Post reported in 2019.
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