Sen. Mitt Romney and President Donald Trump.Photo: George Frey/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock; Andrew Harnik/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Hours afterMitt Romney, a onetime political ally and Republican standard-bearer who is about to join the U.S. Senate, upbraided President Donald Trump for his lack of character and leadership, Trump dismissed the criticism in a characteristic tweet:
“I won big, and he didn’t,” the president wrote Wednesday morning in response to a column Romneypublished Tuesday in theWashington Post.
In his op-ed, Romney, the Republicans’ 2012 nominee for president, wrote that “the Trump presidency made a deep descent in December.”
He highlighted the exits of both Jim Mattis and John F. Kelly, Trump’s defense secretary and chief of staff, as well as Trump’s “thoughtless claim that America has long been a ‘sucker’ in world affairs.”
“To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. … And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring,” Romney wrote.
And while he felt December had been a low point, there was hardly much else to recommend the administration: “On balance, his [Trump’s] conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.”
In reply, Trumptweeted derisivelyof Romney’s unsuccessful bid for the presidency and urged the incoming Utah senator to work with him.
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Trump also referenced Jeff Flake, a retiring Republican senator from Arizona, who was an oft-vocal critic (though still a reliable vote on legislation and appointments).
“Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful.”
“He should be happy for all Republicans,” Trump continued of Romney. “Be a TEAM player & WIN!”
The relationship between Romney and Trump — their party’s onetime presidential nominee and current commander-in-chief —has been turbulent through the years. While the latter endorsed the former during his 2012 run, Romney did not return the favor in 2016 and has repeatedly lambasted Trump.
However,he accepted Trump’s endorsementduring his Senate campaign last year.
In his Tuesday column, Romney applauded Trump’s policy moves on taxes, trade and others as advancing Republican priorities. “But policies and appointments are only a part of a presidency,” he wrote.
“The world is also watching. America has long been looked to for leadership,” Romney wrote, adding, “Trump’s words and actions have caused dismay around the world.”
Paul Morigi/Getty
On Twitter Trump has alternately excoriated this decision and called for a “deal.”
He has also found time to respond to his critics — not just Romney butStanley McChrystal, a retired four-star general,who recently told ABC Newshe would not work for Trump.
“I think it’s important for me to work for people who I think are basically honest, who tell the truth as best they know it,” McChrystal pointedly said and confirmed that he thinks Trump is “immoral.”
source: people.com
