A top aide to White House hopeful Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE on Thursday thanked Mitt Romney after the 2012 Republican presidential nominee blasted the current GOP front-runner.

Dan Scavino, a senior Trump adviser, tweeted that the former Massachusetts governor had delivered "an incredible endorsement" for Trump.

Scavino also tweeted that Romney "defined" the word politician with his remarks, linking to a a video from 2012 when Romney said he was "honored and pleased" to have Trump's endorsement in his own presidential bid.

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Many political observers say Romney's address could play into Trump's hand, given Romney's status in the GOP establishment and Trump's campaign as a political outsider.

Romney during a blistering speech Thursday at the University of Utah unloaded on Trump's foreign policy credibility, business failures and vision for the country.

Romney ripped Trump as a "fraud" and "phony" in his speech, and called on Republicans to support rivals Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE, Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioFlorida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE or John Kasich in voting over the next two weeks.

--This report was updated at 12:35 p.m.