Romney Slams Trump’s Hurricane ‘Disinformation’ Campaign, Compares To U.S. Enemies: ‘The Chinese Must Be Smiling’
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) pulled no punches in hammering former President Donald Trump when asked Tuesday about the role of disinformation in American politics. Romney spoke at the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, where he was asked by Rick Larsen, president and CEO of the Sutherland Institute, to weigh in on various issues.
“Let’s pursue that because one of the most devious strategies is if you can convince people it’s not even safe to vote in a republic, that’s a dangerous proposition,” Larsen said about halfway through their fifty-minute conversation.
Romney replied by noting it depends who is being convinced not to vote, swiping Trump for spreading election lies that actually suppress voting among his own followers who no longer trust the electoral process. “I actually don’t think that’s going to significantly impact the election,” Romney added of attempts to suppress the vote with false claims, adding:
But the amount of disinformation is really extraordinary, although it’s not just being put out by the Russians and the Chinese. I mean, former President Trump told us that the people in Springfield are eating dogs and cats. All right. I mean, you know, he likewise said that FEMA money, our emergency money, instead of helping the people that have been hit by the hurricane, is being used to help illegals. I mean, he just makes it up. And so he is able to spew enough disinformation that that is you know, that the Chinese must be smiling.
“And now Kamala Harris also says things that are inaccurate I mean her pitch is that he’s going to put in place Project 2025 and he keeps saying, ‘No I’m not doing Project 2025,’ and she keeps saying, ‘Yes you are,’ and runs ads about Project 2025 well I don’t know who you believe in that regard but I surely think that President Trump, when it comes to a holiday from the truth he’s taken the longest vacation,” Romney jested to applause.
Romney was also asked during the discussion why he has yet to endorse Harris despite being so vocal about his refusal to vote for Trump and support his reelection.
“I’ve made it very clear that I don’t want Donald Trump to be the next president of the United States,” Romney said adding that he would like to still have a voice in the GOP once it comes time “to be rebuilt or reoriented” after Trump exits politics.
“I believe I will have more influence in the party by virtue of saying it as I’ve said it,” Romney said of his current position of supporting neither candidate. “I’m not planning on changing the way I’ve described it.”
Watch the full conversation above.
