Mitt Romney on Donald Trump

“If Donald Trump's plans were ever implemented, the country would sink into prolonged recession. A few examples: His proposed 35 percent tariff-like penalties would instigate a trade war and that would raise prices for consumers, kill export jobs, and lead entrepreneurs and businesses to flee America…. So even though Donald Trump has offered very few specific economic plans, what little he has said is enough to know that he would be very bad for American workers and American families. But wait, you say, isn't he a huge business success? Doesn't he know what he's talking about? No he isn't. And no he doesn’t…. Now not every policy that Donald Trump has floated is bad. He wants to repeal and replace Obamacare. He wants to bring jobs home from China and Japan. But his prescriptions to do those things are flimsy at best. …Successfully bringing jobs home requires serious policy and reforms that make America the place businesses want to come, want to plant and want to grow. You can't punish business into doing what you want.”

“He has by far the largest voice and a big impact in my party. I don't know if he's planning to run in 2024 or not, but if he does, I'm pretty sure he would win the nomination.”

“Dishonesty is Trump's hallmark: He claimed that he had spoken clearly and boldly against going into Iraq. Wrong, he spoke in favor of invading Iraq. He said he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating 9/11. Wrong, he saw no such thing. He imagined it. His is not the temperament of a stable, thoughtful leader. His imagination must not be married to real power. We have long referred to him as "The Donald." He is the only person in America to whom we have added an article before his name. It wasn't because he had attributes we admired.”