«With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable,» the Utah Republican and 2012 presidential nominee wrote in a Washington Post op-ed posted online.
WASHINGTON — Days away from joining the Senate’s Republican majority, Sen.-elect Mitt Romney broadly criticized President Donald Trump’s policies and character and argued that the president «has not risen to the mantle of the office.»
«With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable,» the Utah Republican and 2012 presidential nominee wrote in a Washington Post op-ed posted online Tuesday night. «And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.»
Romney’s biting public assessment came as Trump and Senate Republicans faced a new governing dynamic. Republicans on Thursday will cede control of the House to Democrats, who were prepared to oppose Trump on a number of policies and promised a slew of investigations into his actions and those of his aides and campaign officials, particularly with regard to Russia’s election meddling.
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had criticized Trump before — notably, in a March 2016 speech he called Trump a «fraud» and opposed his bid for the GOP nomination — but later he made peace with the president-elect and even expressed interest in joining his administration.
