Donald Trump branded Mitt Romney as an “elitist” on Friday, and said his comment that “47 percent” of the people would never vote for him was a self-fulfilling prophecy that cost him the race in 2012.
“He’s an elitist,” Trump said Friday of Romney. “I don’t consider elite … people who think they’re hot stuff and they’re nothing.”
Trump criticized Romney throughout a post-debate speech in Warren, Mich., seizing on the two-time presidential candidate as a new foil in the absence of Jeb Bush. Romney’s 47 percent comment allowed Trump to slap his critic while appealing to his blue-collar base.
“Remember when he made the statement ’47 percent’ and in one speech he lost,” Trump said of Romney. “In one speech, he lost 47 percent of the vote because you’re a choke artist. You ran against Obama four years ago. It was a race that should have been an easy win.”
Trump extended an olive branch to any “choke artists” who support him, however. “He’s a choke artist,” Trump said. “Do you ever see in sports — now, unfortunately, some of you may be choke artists. So, be quiet about it, but don’t worry about it … just keep it to yourselves, don’t tell anybody.”
Trump’s comments are the latest chapter in his feud with Romney, which broke out on Thursday when Romney delivered a public speech in Utah in which he said Trump is a con man, a fraud and a phony, and urged Republicans to vote for one of the remaining candidates.
