President Donald Trump fired back at soon-to-be Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Wednesday morning, hours after the former Republican presidential nominee wrote an op-ed criticizing the president.
The op-ed, published in the Washington Post, is the latest squabble in a fraught relationship between the two men. Romney called Trump’s latest month “a deep descent” for his presidency and criticized the president’s style of governing.
“I will support policies that I believe are in the best interest of the country and my state, and oppose those that are not,” Romney wrote. “I do not intend to comment on every tweet or fault. But I will speak out against significant statements or actions that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions.”
Romney was an outspoken critic of Trump in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election but he also wound up eating dinner with Trump just ahead of his inauguration.
Not to be outdone, Trump fired back at Romney on Wednesday morning, tweeting that he hoped the incoming senator would not be like former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) who has expressed his misgivings with the president on several occasions.
“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 wrote.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2019
Brad Parscale, the president’s campaign manager for his 2020 presidential election bid, also chimed in.
“The truth is @MittRomney lacked the ability to save this nation. @realDonaldTrump has saved it. Jealously [sic] is a drink best served warm and Romney just proved it. So sad, I wish everyone had the courage @realDonaldTrump had,” he wrote.
The truth is @MittRomney lacked the ability to save this nation. @realDonaldTrump has saved it. Jealously is a drink best served warm and Romney just proved it. So sad, I wish everyone had the courage @realDonaldTrump had. https://t.co/mbxoTqbSX6
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) January 2, 2019
Parscale’s use of the phrase “jealously is a drink best served warm” was also mocked, with many people wondering what it means.
“Jealously is a drink best served warm” isn’t a thing, Brad. https://t.co/pYLGN8u0ey
— Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) January 2, 2019
“Jealousy is a drink best served warm”? https://t.co/Fh1eEMHkx1
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 2, 2019
Given the history between Trump and Romney, expect a few more lazy fights to spill onto Twitter in the coming months.
When he was running for Senate, Romney embraced an endorsement from Trump.
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