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Donald Trump on NBC's 'Today' called the 2012 Republican nominee a 'stiff' who will not get elected. Trump fires back: 'Mitt Romney is a stiff'

Donald Trump on Thursday assailed Mitt Romney, calling the 2012 Republican nominee a “stiff” who will not get elected.

Trump’s prebuttal comes hours ahead of a speech Romney will give Thursday morning in which he is expected to rip the billionaire as a “phony” and a “fraud.” The former Massachusetts governor, however, is unlikely to endorse a candidate or announce a bid of his own during his remarks.

“Mitt Romney is a stiff,” Trump said Thursday, phoning into NBC’s “Today.” “Mitt Romney will not get elected. Mitt Romney failed twice and really failed last time. He was going against a president that should have been beaten.”

Trump, who blasted the “failed” and “horrible candidate” for seeking his endorsement four years ago, said Romney disappeared in the month leading up to the election. “This guy disappeared. He went away,” Trump said. “And he got killed. He got decimated in the election.”

In a separate phone interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” later Thursday morning, Trump doubled down on his comments, labeling Romney a “catastrophe” who is “just trying to stay relevant.”

“I helped him and I raised money for him and I did everything, but he didn’t do the job,” the real-estate mogul said. “He didn’t have the capability to do the job, and he certainly hasn’t gotten any better.”

The businessman’s interview followed an early-morning tweetstorm railing against Romney — and the establishment — after excerpts of the former governor's upcoming speech were released:

Failed candidate Mitt Romney,who ran one of the worst races in presidential history,is working with the establishment to bury a big "R" win! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2016

I have brought millions of people into the Republican Party, while the Dems are going down. Establishment wants to kill this movement! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2016

I am the only one who can beat Hillary Clinton. I am not a Mitt Romney, who doesn't know how to win. Hillary wants no part of "Trump" — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2016

Why did Mitt Romney BEG me for my endorsement four years ago? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 3, 2016



