Sarah Palin is rushing to 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's defense after 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney blasted the GOP front-runner in a speech Thursday.

"Donald Trump, Don't Take the Bait," Palin, the GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee, wrote on Facebook, calling Romney's speech a "nonsensical attack."

Palin also questioned Romney's status as a "great conservative leader" and promoted a video from Trump's campaign on her Facebook page.

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The nearly 90-second video highlights clips of past Romney statements over several years to paint him as a liberal.

The clips include him discussing "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, touting support for healthcare reform in Massachusetts and discussing "a woman's right to choose." The video also features Romney saying he believes humans contribute to global warming.

Palin wrote a follow-up Facebook note ripping Romney later Thursday.

"Trump's favorables just rose again, as did the veil you willingly wore while being used by the corrupt political establishment who can't afford to lose their power in liberal D.C.," she said.

"Your speech was so silly and contradictory it confirmed the reasons Trump received tens of thousands more votes than you did in your own home state that you governed," Palin added, calling Romney a "silly man."

Romney excoriated Trump in a speech from the University of Utah on Thursday. He described Trump as a "fraud" and went after his business record, foreign policy credibility and temperament.

Romney said America faces "another time for choosing," referencing a 1964 Ronald Reagan speech, and urged Republicans to vote for one of Trump's rivals.

Romney's speech comes as Republicans step up efforts to keep Trump from winning the party's nomination after a strong Super Tuesday showing.

After his speech, Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe electoral reality that the media ignores Kelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks MORE (R-Ariz.), who picked Palin as his running mate in 2008, echoed Romney's concerns about Trump. McCain knocked Trump's "uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues."

- Updated at 2:04 p.m.