Trump on Romney: ‘He wants to be back in the game’

Not surprisingly, Thursday’s Republican debate began with a question to Donald Trump about Mitt Romney’s speech earlier in the day slamming him as a “phony” who is dangerous for the United States’ future.

Trump, who backed Romney’s campaign four years ago, trashed the 2012 presidential nominee, calling him a “failed candidate… who should have beaten President Obama” very easily.

Donald Trump at Thursday’s GOP debate in Detroit. (Photo: Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

“He failed miserably, and it was an embarrassment to everybody, including the Republican Party,” Trump said. “Obviously, he wants to be relevant. He wants to be back in the game.”

It was a slightly tamer answer than the GOP frontrunner had given at a campaign rally in Maine earlier on Thursday, when he trashed Romney as a “choke artist” (a description he’s also used for his rival Marco Rubio) who came to him and begged for his support.

“I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees,’ and he would have,” Trump declared.

Romney’s speech on Thursday morning seemed to be timed at getting play in the GOP debate — which it did. But it’s still unclear whether the former GOP nominee can claim the mantle of party elder and actually sway Republicans enthralled by Trump’s insurgent, anti-establishment campaign.