Romney criticizes Trump, Democrats for contributing to ‘hate-filled morass’

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Wednesday criticized President Trump and Democrats for turning the nation’s political environment into a “hate-filled morass” amid a tense presidential race.

“I have stayed quiet with the approach of the election,” Romney said in a statement posted to Twitter. “But I’m troubled by our politics, as it has moved away from spirited debate to a vile, vituperative, hate-filled morass that is unbecoming of any free nation—let alone the birthplace of modern democracy.”

My thoughts on the current state of our politics: pic.twitter.com/oYY4zlX6ZP

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 13, 2020

Romney held back no punches as he criticized the president for calling Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris a “monster” following her debate with Vice President Pence and for repeatedly labeling Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “crazy.” 

The Utah senator further accused democrats of “launching blistering attacks of their own,” pointing out the time that Pelosi tore up the president’s State of the Union address. He also pointed out that anti-Trump critic Keith Olbermann called Trump a “terrorist.” 

“The rabid attacks kindle the conspiracy mongers and the haters who take the small and predictable step from intemperate word to dangerous action,” Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, said. “The world is watching America with abject horror; more consequentially, our children are watching. Many Americans are divided, so angry, so mean, so violent.” 

“It is time to lower the heat. Leaders must tone it down,” he continued. “The consequence of the crescendo of anger leads to a very bad place. No sane person can get away with that.” 

Romney is one of the GOP senators most willing to publicly criticize Trump, and has not shied away from doing so. The Utah senator most recently criticized Trump for not condemning white supremacists during the first presidential debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. 

Romney previously pushed back against Trump when he refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the election next month.

“Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,” Romney tweeted at the time, though not naming Trump directly.