Mitt Romney Laughs At The Phrase ‘America First’ During Interview With MSNBC

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney told MSNBC that he laughs at the notion of “America First,” a popular rallying cry of former President Donald Trump and his supporters, which calls for the prioritization of American citizens over the interests of foreign nations.

While speaking with MSNBC’s Stephanie Rhule, Romney took aim at what he described as growing “isolationism” in the Republican Party.

“It’s unimaginable that in the party of Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush and John McCain and others, that we would see a growing isolationism within our party,” Romney said.

“What they’re forgetting is that we are connected to the rest of the world, that our economy is connected to the rest of the world — that if we had had that attitude then, you know, Germany would’ve ended up ruling the world,” the soon to be retired senator continued.

He went on to state that American prosperity is dependent on what goes on outside the country. “We’re involved in the world out of our own self-interest, and I laugh at the phrase ‘America First.’ I know it typically means isolationism, but really, America is putting ourselves first when we’re involved in the world, when we stop bad people,” Romney said before addressing the war in Ukraine.

“Look, if [Russian President] Vladimir Putin goes not just through Ukraine, but then decides to go into Poland, then we’re involved in a conflict with our sons and daughters going to war. Or we could walk away from NATO, in which case Putin is going to keep on going and going.”

The former Republican nominee has long stated that he will not vote for former President Donald Trump in November. He has even stated that he would sooner vote for a Democrat if presented with the choice, though he did tell Ruhle that he will not be voting for either candidate in November.

“How about a world where China and Russia control the world and we have our own little island? That’s not a world where Americans are going to be safe or prosperous. We’re safe and prosperous when the world follows the orders that have existed over the last 75 years,” Romney told MSNBC.