Three days before being sworn into Congress, Utah senator-elect Mitt Romney wrote a scathing rebuke of Donald Trump in the president’s least favorite newspaper, The Washington Post. In an op-ed published January 1, Romney chastised Trump for his character saying it “falls short” of the office.
Romney’s decision to criticize an incumbent president from his own party was a bold move at a time when Congressional Republicans have been reluctant to challenge the renegade president.
Over the past two years, the most vocal Republican anti-Trump voices in the senate have been those who weren’t seeking re-election. Most notably, Jeff Flake and John McCain, both of Arizona.
While Romney’s op-ed praises Trump for cutting taxes and passing criminal justice reform, he believes the president’s behavior has been unbecoming of the office. “On balance,” Romney wrote, “his 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.”
Romney was also critical of how Trump has either neglected America’s allies or treated them with hostility.
Romney ended his op-ed on a positive note, outlining a path to repair America’s image abroad and heal its fractured political landscape at home.
Trump proved Romney right with an immature response on Twitter, calling out the senator-elect for losing in the 2012 presidential election.
While Romney’s op-ed was a brave decision, it’s been met with its share of cynicism. Romney peviously called out Trump in 2016 only to meet with him after the election about a cabinet position.
Romney also has a long history with flip-flopping on major issues such as the Affordable Healthcare Act, abortion, and assault rifles.
Read the entire op-ed here.
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