Trump lashes out at Romney

As tensions inside the Republican Party have grown, Senator Mitt Romney has been the focus of harsh criticism from Donald Trump in recent weeks. With Romney firmly in the spotlight, the argument highlights the widening gulf between Trump supporters and his detractors within the party.

President Donald Trump on Saturday ridiculed Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) for his loss to former President Barack Obama in the 2012 election — one day after Romney said he was “sickened” by Trump’s actions as detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report.

“If @MittRomney spent the same energy fighting Barack Obama as he does fighting Donald Trump, he could have won the race (maybe)!” Trump tweeted.

Background

Former presidential candidate and current Utah senator Mitt Romney has long been an outspoken opponent of Trump. Trump has frequently taken offense at his remarks regarding ethics, leadership style, and the GOP’s agenda. For example, Romney said he was “sickened” by the dishonesty exposed in the Trump White House’s Russia inquiry report.

Rather of emphasizing steadfast commitment, Trump retaliated with personal assaults, calling Romney weak and casting doubt on his track record and political aspirations.

Attached to the president’s post was a 40-second video contrasting election night footage and CNN news coverage from Romney’s White House loss six-and-a-half years ago to Obama with Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. It was unclear whether the White House produced the brief clip, or if it was crafted by one of the president’s supporters.

Romney is one of the few Republican senators who has expressed disappointment in the president following the release of a redacted version of Mueller’s report by Attorney General William Barr on Thursday.

Read Full Article: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/20/mueller-report-trump-romney-1283781

Conclusion

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney’s verbal sparring is more than just a personal spat; it is a deeper struggle over the direction and essence of the Republican Party. For Trump, it’s about devotion and domination; for Romney, it’s about principles. The conclusion could have a significant impact on the GOP’s future course.
Both Republicans and voters will be looking to see if this tension results in positive change or just further divisiveness.