Romney: Trump claim of stolen election ‘recklessly inflames destructive and dangerous passions’

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Friday pushed back against President Trump’s baseless claim that the election is being stolen, warning that his rhetoric is only inflaming partisan tensions.

Romney, in a statement posted to Twitter, said the president was “right” to “exhaust legal remedies,” including asking for recounts and that alleged voting irregularities be investigated, but “wrong to say that the election was rigged, corrupt and stolen.”

“Doing so damages the cause of freedom here and around the world, weakens the institutions that lie at the foundation of the Republic and recklessly inflames destructive and dangerous passions,” Romney added.

His statement comes as Republicans are increasingly pushing back as Trump digs in on his claims that the election is being stolen from him through illegal actions by Democrats in battleground states where votes are still being counted.

Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric as he faces an increasingly narrow path to securing the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win reelection. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has either pulled ahead or remains in the lead in key states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Arizona.

Among members of the Senate GOP caucus, Romney has been one of the most willing to directly call out the president. His statement on Friday is an escalation from his comments on Thursday when he did not directly name the president but encouraged Americans to have faith in the democratic process.

Some GOP senators have warned Trump’s claims of election fraud do not match reality.

“I saw the president’s speech last night and it was very hard to watch. The president’s allegations of large-scale fraud and theft of the election are just not substantiated,” said Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), whose home state has been under criticism by the president and some of his allies.

Other Senate Republicans, while not criticizing Trump, have urged him to be as specific as possible about any alleged wrongdoing. Several senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), have pushed back on Trump without directly naming him. 

“Here’s how this must work in our great country: Every legal vote should be counted. Any illegally-submitted ballots must not. All sides must get to observe the process. And the courts are here to apply the laws & resolve disputes. That’s how Americans’ votes decide the result,” McConnell tweeted.

The GOP leader declined to answer several questions about Trump’s comments during a press conference in Kentucky on Friday, instead referring back to his tweet.

“I know it’s reasonable for you to ask, but I get to decide what I say,” McConnell said at one point.