SALT LAKE CITY- Mitt Romney jumped into the Republican civil war over Donald Trump on Thursday, blasting the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination as a "phony" and a "fraud" who would hand the White House over to Hillary Clinton in the fall election.
"His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University," Romney said in a speech, according to excerpts released by his office. "He's playing the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat."
Romney delivered his remarks Thursday at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
"If we chose Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished."
Romney blasted Trump's foreign policy statements on ISIS and Vladimir Putin as "recklessness in the extreme."
"Donald Trump tells us he is very very smart. I'm afraid when it comes to foreign policy, he is very not smart."
Romney said he is not running for office nor is he endorsing a specific candidate. Instead he suggests that GOP primary voters should choose the candidate in their state who has the best chance of beating Trump, whether it's Marco Rubio, John Kasich, or Ted Cruz.
Trump, who endorsed Romney in 2012 and is now on the cusp of the Republican nomination himself, said Romney blew his chance at election four years ago and is now representing a Republican establishment that has let down its supporters.
"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!" Trump tweeted.
Romney's speech, which echoes criticism of Trump by his Republican primary rivals, comes in the wake of a series of Trump wins on the campaign trail, many of them fueled by Tea Party backers and new voters who are critical of the Republican establishment.
