Sen. Mitt Romney said Thursday that former Defense Secretary James Mattis blistering criticism of President Trump was “stunning and powerful.”
In a letter reported by the Atlantic on Wednesday, Mattis accused Trump of using the U.S. military to violate the constitutional rights of American citizens. He also accused the president of dividing the American people.
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” wrote Mattis.
The Hill reports Romney did not speak directly about the content of Mattis’ letter, nor did he say he agreed with the sentiment.
“Gen. Mattis’s letter was stunning and powerful. Gen Mattis is a man of extraordinary sacrifice. He’s an American patriot. He’s an individual whose judgment I respect, and I think the world of him,” Romney told reporters.
“If I ever had to choose somebody to be in a foxhole with, it would be with a Gen. Mattis. What a wonderful, wonderful man,” Romney added.
On Monday, President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to use the military to put down protests that have turned violent in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
On Thursday, Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski told reporters she was “struggling” with whether she could support President Trump after seeing how his administration has dealt with the unrest unfolding across the nation. She also said of Mattis’s letter that it was “necessary” and “overdue.”
