Americans react to Romney's attack on 'con man' Trump

SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney took to the stage at the University of Utah Thursday in an excoriating attack on Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

"Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud," Romney declared. "His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat."

The speech, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, detailed the many reasons Romney believed Trump was not a viable option to challenge the Democratic Party this fall, saying he would "be bad for American workers and for American families."

Romney said Trump lacked the right temperament to be president and that "dishonesty is Trump's hallmark."

"Think of Donald Trump's personal qualities, the bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny, the absurd third-grade theatrics," Romney said. "We have long referred to him as ‘The Donald.' He is the only person in America to whom we have added an article before his name. It wasn't because he had attributes we admired.

"Now imagine your children and your grandchildren acting the way he does," Romney continued. "Will you welcome that? Haven't we seen before what happens when people in prominent positions fail the basic responsibility of honorable conduct? We have, and it always injures our families and our country."

Romney, who was questioned about his tax returns when he was the Republican nominee in 2012, renewed his challenge on Trump to release his taxes, saying that he predicts Trump will "never ever release his tax returns" because he has "too much to hide."

"I predict that there are more bombshells in his tax returns," Romney said. "If I'm right, you will have all the proof you need to know that Donald Trump is a phony."

Although there is a general sense of support for Romney's speech, others believe the speech will actual help Trump secure the nomination or that it won't do anything to actually rally the "establishment" voters.

Whether Romney's speech will fall on deaf ears or help or hurt Trump is yet to be determined, but Romney said it's important to watch Trump's reaction to the speech.

"Attacking me, as he surely will, won't prove him any less of a phony," Romney said. "It's entirely in his hands to prove me wrong."

Trump responded to Romney's speech Thursday afternoon at a rally in Maine, saying Romney was one of the worst candidates in recent history and "gave away" the election to President Barack Obama. He added that Romney "begged" him for his endorsement in 2012.

Trump tweeted before the speech that Romney was "not a good messenger."

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