Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) needled fellow Republican Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' MORE (Utah) in an op-ed in The Washington Post on Friday, arguing that the GOP doesn't need "more distractions."

"The mainstream media and Democrats want to further divide Republicans, and now Romney has played right into their hands," Perdue wrote.

"Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeRepublican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden Maybe they just don't like cowboys: The president is successful, some just don't like his style Bush endorsing Biden? Don't hold your breath MORE (Ariz.) filled that role before his retirement; the last thing we need now in the Senate is a Jeff Flake on steroids. We certainly don’t need more distractions. We need constructive leaders who want to get things done."

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Perdue invoked Flake, a vocal critic of President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE who retired this month, while responding to an op-ed that Romney wrote in the Post earlier this week. In the op-ed, Romney slammed Trump's character, saying that it fell short of what the country needed.

The Georgia senator argued Friday that Romney, a former GOP presidential nominee, "made the same mistake that many Republicans did in 2012 — a mistake that cost him the White House."

"Like others who have run for president and failed, Romney has taken a stance that smacks of jealousy and resentment. It does nothing but serve the radical liberal left and further divides conservatives," he argued.

Perdue closed the op-ed by asking Romney to fall in line with the rest of the party.

"We are on track to change the nation’s direction for the better," he wrote. "We are on track to restore economic opportunity, fiscal responsibility, limited government and individual liberty. I hope Romney, who plans to caucus with Republicans, will reconsider continuing his harmful behavior as he begins his Senate career.

"Instead, I hope he will join me as one of the few business-minded leaders who can stay focused on getting the job done."