Former GOP presidential nominee and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) had not posted on X since just after the passing of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in July.
Romney wrote on July 12, “Lindsey Graham’s dedication to the cause of freedom inspired the oppressed and chastened the tyrants. A most fitting tribute to his life will be the unwavering support for the people of Ukraine.”
Lindsey Graham’s dedication to the cause of freedom inspired the oppressed and chastened the tyrants. A most fitting tribute to his life will be the unwavering support for the people of Ukraine.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) July 12, 2026
After President Trump eased restrictions on Russian diesel exports and then waived sanctions under legislation championed by Graham, Romney returned to X, writing: “‘we will pay any price….to assure the success and survival of liberty.’ Is this still true? Do we prize liberty or do we prize power and purse? No more clear test than the choice between Ukraine and Russia. Abandon Ukraine and we abandon liberty. Eventually even our own.”
“we will pay any price….to assure the success and survival of liberty.” Is this still true? Do we prize liberty or do we prize power and purse? No more clear test than the choice between Ukraine and Russia. Abandon Ukraine and we abandon liberty. Eventually even our own.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 17, 2026
Romney’s central quote is from President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961. Kennedy said: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
Trump critics are responding to Romney’s provocation, including political scientist Ian Bremmer, who wrote: “as president trump put it at the united nations, ‘to the victor goes the spoils.’ the president of the united states values money and power. and above all, himself. liberty isn’t a close second.”
Yale professor Howard Forman also replied: “For short term political considerations, we are going to inflict huge personal losses to others in the short run and enormous costs to our own nation in the long run. It’s just stupidity wrapped in populism tied together by hate.”
Some responders, however, questioned whether a defense of Ukraine was synonymous with a defense of liberty, as Graham believed and Romney asserted. Among those was retired U.S. Marine Corps infantryman Joshua Hartley, whose reply to Romney asked: “Did you swear an oath to America or to Ukraine?”
“We do not have to choose between Russia or Ukraine,” Hartley wrote, telling Romney to “feel free to take your sons, fly to Ukraine, and climb into a trench if you honestly believe American liberty lives or dies by this. Shame on you @MittRomney.”
Missouri State Senator Stephen Webber, a Democrat, also replied to Romney (with a photo of Romney with Trump), writing “Yeah we’ve been clear on who Trump is the entire time. Stop ‘asking questions’ and start using your big boy voice or can it.”
@MittRomney Yeah we’ve been clear on who Trump is the entire time. Stop “asking questions” and start using your big boy voice or can it. https://t.co/0xKmnKrM3M
— Stephen Webber
(@s_webber) October 17, 2026
