Senator Mitt Romney criticized growing isolationism in the Republican party and dismissed the phrase “America First.”
While speaking to MSNBC, Romney took aim at this rallying cry of Donald Trump and his supporters that calls for prioritizing American citizens over foreign interests.
“It’s unimaginable that in the party of Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush and John McCain and others, that we would see a growing isolationism within our party,” Romney said.
“What they’re forgetting is that we are connected to the rest of the world, that our economy is connected to the rest of the world — that if we had had that attitude then, you know, Germany would’ve ended up ruling the world,” he said.
He said American prosperity depends on global engagement and involvement, arguing the U.S. puts itself first by stopping threats abroad, as seen by needing to counter Russia in Ukraine to prevent further aggression.
Romney warned of dangers if China and Russia controlled the world instead of the post-WWII global order.
“We’re involved in the world out of our own self-interest, and I laugh at the phrase ‘America First.’ I know it typically means isolationism, but really, America is putting ourselves first when we’re involved in the world, when we stop bad people,” Romney said.
“Look, if [Russian President] Vladimir Putin goes not just through Ukraine, but then decides to go into Poland, then we’re involved in a conflict with our sons and daughters going to war. Or we could walk away from NATO, in which case Putin is going to keep on going and going.”
“How about a world where China and Russia control the world and we have our own little island? That’s not a world where Americans are going to be safe or prosperous. We’re safe and prosperous when the world follows the orders that have existed over the last 75 years,” Romney said.
He said it’s unimaginable the party of past presidents would embrace isolationism.
Romney has long said he won’t vote for Trump in November and would vote for a Democrat before either major candidate.
Romney advocated for continued U.S. leadership globally as most beneficial for American safety and economic strength.
