The news media naturally delighted in Sen.-elect Mitt Romney, R-Utah, attacking the leader of his party in his op-ed on Tuesday. But President Trump negated whatever sting his piece had with one devastatingly subtle tweet.

“Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast!” Trump mused Wednesday in response to Romney. “Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not. Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!”

There was no clever nickname or blunt insult. Only a reminder that Romney lost twice in his own runs for president, along with a plea to work with other Republicans to pass legislation.

Romney made clear his feelings for Trump during the 2016 election when he called him a con man. Did he think the world was now waiting to hear what he really thought?

The op-ed is more useful as a reminder of the type of cannibalistic behavior that Republicans are often known for: Attacking each other to impress the media.

“[O]n balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions this month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office,” wrote Romney. And in typical, cyborg Romney phrasing, he referred to Trump as “the incumbent,” who should “inspire us to follow ‘our better angels.’”

Yes, he actually placed “our better angels” in quotations.

This is the behavior exhibited by other ineffective Republicans like the worthless Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona and the book salesman Ben Sasse, who also happens to be a senator from Nebraska. It’s the type of Republican who serves to cog up the party’s political ambitions by endlessly demonstrating how principled and righteous they are.

The media love it, and short-term write-ups in liberal newspapers will be the only place where Romney’s moral preening holds any relevance. In the long run, it will gain him nothing, even there.