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Trump Responds to Romney's Op-Ed

Romney: 'presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable,' it is here Trump's 'shortfall has been most glaring'

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney dine at Jean Georges restaurant, November 29, 2016 in New York City / Getty
January 2, 2019

President Donald Trump responded on Twitter Wednesday morning to an editorial written by Senator-elect Mitt Romney (R., Utah).

"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!" Trump said in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1080447092882112512

Romney argued in the Washington Post on Tuesday that Trump hasn't risen to the mantle of the presidency.

"It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, [John] Kelly and [Jim] Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions this month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office," Romney wrote.

Romney shared his op-ed on Twitter, tweeting that policies are only one part of the presidency and that the president should work to unite and inspire the country.

Romney added that he will support policies he agrees with but will speak out against "significant statements or actions" from Trump that are "divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions."

During the Republican primary in 2016, Romney spoke out against Trump and said he didn't have the "temperament" to be president. After Trump won the election, it appeared Trump and Romney buried the hatchet and that Trump even considered Romney to be his secretary of state.