Former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Friday that he wouldn’t be supporting Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency because he doesn’t want to see “trickle-down racism” in the country.
In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Friday, Romney — who has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s candidacy — said there’s nothing Trump can do to win his support.
“Look, I don’t want to see trickle-down racism,” Romney said. “I don’t want to see a president of the United States saying things which change the character of the generation of Americans that are following. Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation, and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry, trickle-down misogyny — all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America.”
“This is not a matter of policy,” he said. “It’s a matter of character and integrity.”
“I think that his comments time and again appeal to the racist tendency that exists in some people,” Romney replied after Blitzer asked him if he believes that Trump is a racist. “And I think that’s very dangerous.”
Romney also said he isn’t ruling out voting for Libertarian Gary Johnson — though he said he disagrees with him on issues like the legalization of marijuana. Johnson’s running mate is former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, who has previously endorsed and fundraised for Romney.
“If Bill were at the top of the ticket, it would be very easy for me to vote for Bill Weld for president,” Romney said. “I’ll get to know Gary Johnson better and see if he’s someone who I could end up voting for. That’s something which I’ll evaluate over the coming weeks and months.”
Romney has been very vocal in his opposition to Trump’s bid for the presidency. In March, he called Trump a “fraud” and said that if he becomes the Republican nominee, “the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished.” During his own campaign in 2012, however, Romney sought and received Trump’s endorsement and financial support.