Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney, the losing Republican presidential candidate in 2012, today (March 3), tore into Donald Trump in a speech at the Hinckley Institute in Utah.

Romney, who bought a La Jolla home after his 2012 loss, called Trump a "phony" and a "fraud." Romney said Hillary Clinton is "untrustworthy and dishonest" but could be elected president if Trump, the current leader, is the Republican candidate.

Romney contradicted Trump's claims that he is a successful businessman. Romney cited such failures as Trump University, Trump Vodka, and Trump's failed attempt to have an airline. Romney noted that Trump inherited his money.

Trump's "domestic policies would lead to recession," declared Romney. (Trump favors tax cuts so steep that the deficit would soar.) "His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe," said Romney, citing Trump's remarks about Muslims and Mexicans.

Romney said Trump does not have the emotional stability to be president. "He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president. And his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill," said Romney, paraphrasing Ronald Reagan.

The power brokers in the Republican party are trying to concoct ways to thwart Trump. Romney was almost certainly chosen to be a major attacker. Commentators said they could find no precedent in American history when such a stinging speech was delivered to stop one candidate from a person in that candidate's party.

Trump, who has sharply criticized Romney for his 2012 loss, said, "He begged me four years ago for my endorsement; he is a failed candidate. Mitt Romney is a stiff." Trump said Romney's attack would unify rather than divide the Republican Party.