Romney Starts Blistering Attack on Trump’s Character

Local Editor

Incoming Senator Mitt Romney said Wednesday he was unsure who to endorse for the White House in 2020, saying he would consider "the alternatives" to US President Donald Trump, whose presidency he said is falling short.

The comments on CNN came hours after the 2012 Republican presidential candidate published a scathing op-ed targeting Trump, saying he "has not risen to the mantle of the office" and his actions have alienated America's allies.

Concerning the endorsement, Romney said "I think it's early to make that decision and I want to see what the alternatives are."

As a senator, he vowed to "vote with my conscience," even if it meant going against Trump and his party.

But Romney -- who is preparing to take up his seat in the new Congress -- shut down any notion that he was considering another presidential bid, saying "I've had that experience."

"And, by the way, I acknowledge the president was successful. And I was not."

Romney's earlier comments seemed to suggest he is positioning himself to take over the role of Jeff Flake, a departing senator who was a vocal critic of Trump.

"With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable," Romney wrote in his op-ed piece in The Washington Post on Tuesday.

"And it is in this province where the incumbent's shortfall has been most glaring."

He added that Trump's actions had caused "dismay around the world" and alienated traditional allies in Europe.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team