Graham warns Romney that his opposition to Trump is “going to hurt him and Utah”
By Grace Segers
/ CBS News
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham warned incoming Sen. Mitt Romney Wednesday that publicly opposing President Trump would "hurt him and Utah." Graham, a critic-turned-ally of the president, responded to the opinion piece by Romney in The Washington Post saying that Mr. Trump "has not risen to the mantle of the office."
"If he's going to be the critic from Utah, it's going to hurt him and Utah," Graham said in an interview with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio. Graham said that Mr. Trump is accessible and open to discussing policy. Graham has met with Mr. Trump to try to convince the president not to withdraw troops from Syria, although those attempts have so far been unsuccessful.
However, Graham said, Mr. Trump would not be willing to work with Romney "if he believes you are out to get him." Mr. Trump mocked Romney in a tweet on Wednesday morning, comparing him to former Sen. Jeff Flake, a frequent critic of the president.
"Here we go with Mitt Romney, but so fast! Question will be, is he a Flake? I hope not. Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Security and so many other things where he can be helpful. I won big, and he didn't. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!" Mr. Trump wrote.
Graham also said that those applauding Romney's opposition to Mr. Trump would turn on him as soon as he began casting conservative votes.
"What you got to learn from Kavanaugh, it's really not about Trump, it's about us. It's about conservatism," Graham said, referring to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual misconduct before his confirmation. Graham unloaded on Democrats during Kavanaugh's hearings, accusing them of cooking up allegations in response to the judge's conservatism.
Graham also urged Romney to "remember what they tried to do to you," possibly referring to criticism of Romney after he appeared to be in contention for the secretary of state post before Mr. Trump took office.
"Remember what they tried to do to you, Mitt. When they got through with you, you were a bad guy. The truth is you're a good guy, but in their world you will always be a bad guy if you cross them on policy," Graham said.
First published on January 2, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Grace Segers
Grace Segers is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital.
Graham says Romney’s opposition to Trump is “going to hurt him and Utah”
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham warned incoming Sen. Mitt Romney Wednesday that publicly opposing President Trump would "hurt him and Utah"
updated 2M ago 
Some Democrats to oppose House rules package
They say they'll vote against House rules package, which includes treatment of debt, ethics and also hats
updated 26M ago 
Trump meets with Cabinet as shutdown lingers — live updates
It's the 12th day of the shutdown, and the sides don't look close to a deal
updated 10M ago 
RNC member floats proposal to thwart Trump primary challengers
An email was sent to RNC members urging them to consider a rule change following a blistering Mitt Romney op-ed critical of the president
updated 33M ago 
20-year-old is priciest American soccer player in history
Chelsea paid 64 million euros – $73 million – for Christian Pulisic
updated 2M ago 
Graham says Romney’s opposition to Trump is “going to hurt him and Utah”
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham warned incoming Sen. Mitt Romney Wednesday that publicly opposing President Trump would "hurt him and Utah"
updated 2M ago
Some Democrats to oppose House rules package
They say they'll vote against House rules package, which includes treatment of debt, ethics and also hats
updated 26M ago
Trump meets with Cabinet as shutdown lingers — live updates
It's the 12th day of the shutdown, and the sides don't look close to a deal
updated 10M ago
RNC member floats proposal to thwart Trump primary challengers
An email was sent to RNC members urging them to consider a rule change following a blistering Mitt Romney op-ed critical of the president
updated 33M ago 
The Takeout: A CBS News original political podcast
“The Takeout” is a weekly podcast about politics, policy and pop culture hosted by CBS News Chief White House correspondent Major Garrett
1H ago 
Protests erupt after 2 women break decades-long ban in India
Two women made history when they entered one of India's largest Hindu pilgrimage sites
updated 8M ago
20-year-old is priciest American soccer player in history
Chelsea paid 64 million euros – $73 million – for Christian Pulisic
updated 2M ago 
Mayor gunned down shortly after taking office in Mexico
Governor of Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca says a suspect was in custody
1H ago 
Sweet New Year's tradition turns deadly – yet again
Authorities annually warn people to cut the sticky rice cakes, known as mochi, into smaller pieces
1H ago 
Venice plans to tax day-trippers in effort to curb tourism
Locals say it has become a Disneyland for tourists, and the city's future is at stake
3H ago 
Watch: Texas steer mascot charges Georgia bulldog before game
Texas football program's mascot, a large white and brown longhorn steer named Bevo, charged in the direction of Georgia's mascot , a bulldog name Uga
4H ago 
Netflix nixes U.S. satire in Saudi Arabia "to comply with local law"
Streaming giant takes heat for removal of "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" episode in which comedian lashes crown prince over journalist's murder
9H ago 
Madonna gives surprise New Year's Eve concert at historic Stonewall Inn
Madonna performed with "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Like a Prayer" with her son, David Banda, playing guitar
17H ago 
Jimmy Osmond suffers stroke after U.K. performance
Osmond was playing Captain Hook in a performance of Peter Pan
Jan 1 
"Nervous" Roger Federer faces Serena Williams for 1st time
"People talk about her serve so much and I see why it is such a wonderful serve because you just can't read it," Federer said
Jan 1 
NASA spacecraft survives historic trip to world 4 billion miles away
New Horizons zooms past the celestial object known as Ultima Thule 3 ½ years after its spectacular brush with Pluto
3H ago 
Report: China completes antenna 5 times the size of NYC
The Wireless Electromagnetic Method project was built on a site nearly five times the size of New York City
Dec 31, 2018 
Retail revolution brings robot restaurants, car vending machines to China
Companies are re-engineering their businesses to cater to consumers who rely on smartphones for pretty much everything
Dec 31, 2018 
New Horizons space probe closes in for historic encounter
NASA's New Horizons probe is racing toward the most distant space object ever explored, 4.1 billion miles from Earth
3H ago 
New augmented reality technology could help firefighters save lives
Operating in pitch-black, smoke-filled rooms may become less dangerous with the help of special cameras and computer programs built into the C-Thru firefighter's mask
Dec 31, 2018 
Nurses help "anxious" new parents at home, and program pays off
For every dollar spent on the program, an estimated $3 in health care costs are saved
2H ago 
Pets burned in California's Camp Fire get relief with fish-skin treatments
The skin has been used to treat bears and mountain lions in the past
4H ago 
Top health stories to watch for in 2019
From a mysterious polio-like illness affecting kids to 3D-printing human organs, here are some medical stories to keep an eye on
Jan 1 
5 popular hangover cures, reviewed by experts
From black coffee to a hair of the dog – here's the science behind popular hangover remedies
Jan 1 
Judge lets Obamacare stand during appeal process
Judge Reed O'Connor said he stands by his conclusion that the law is invalidated by congressional repeal of its fines on people who remain uninsured
Dec 30, 2018 
Stocks start 2019 with a whimper, extending slide
Investors are spooked by the latest readings from China that point to slower growth amid a global trade war
2H ago 
Stocks end the year down in worst decline since 2008
Investors endured the worst year for stocks since the recession — here's what experts say is in store for 2019
Dec 31, 2018 
Opportunity in America, 10 years after the financial crisis
This week's "Where Did You Get This Number?" podcast explores the impact of the financial crisis on how people deal with money, plus opportunity in the digital economy and income in America
Dec 31, 2018 
Stocks climb amid renewed hopes for U.S.-China trade deal
Despite President Trump's optimism over trade dispute, stocks are limping into 2019 amid growth fears
Dec 31, 2018 
5 New Year’s resolutions for working boomers
Here are critical steps that will improve your retirement prospects and — best part — can be easy to achieve
Dec 31, 2018 
"He fired at us for no reason": Mother of slain 7-year-old recalls shooting
Jazmine Barnes was killed after a gunman in a pickup truck pulled up next to the car she was in and started shooting
17H ago 
Kids in 2 states wounded by possible New Year's "celebratory" gunfire
A nine-year-old boy in Georgia and a six-year-old girl in California were both wounded by stray bullets overnight
22H ago 
Mother killed over $35 manicure at Las Vegas nail salon
Las Vegas police search for a woman accused of using a stolen car to run over and kill a nail salon worker after failing to pay for a $35 manicure
Jan 1 
Elizabeth Smart responds to news her kidnapper lives near school
Wanda Barzee, who helped kidnap Smart, is listed in sex-offender registry as living near Parkview Elementary School in Utah
Jan 1 
Search for gunman who killed 7-year-old girl riding in car with family
Jazmine Barnes was killed when a man in a red pickup truck pulled up next to her family's car and opened fire Sunday
Dec 31, 2018 Original Article
