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From 'terrific' to 'phony': The Donald Trump-Mitt Romney story

By NICK GASS

Mitt Romney’s gloves-off speech against Donald Trump on Thursday marked a 180-degree reversal from just four short years ago, when the Republican presidential candidate and former governor of Massachusetts happily accepted the Manhattan businessman’s endorsement at his glittering Las Vegas resort.

POLITICO has compiled some of the praise the men had for each other at and following that endorsement, as well as some of the vitriol they have exchanged since, including on Thursday.

Donald Trump, Feb. 2, 2012, at the Trump Hotel Las Vegas

“It’s my honor, real honor, and privilege to endorse Mitt Romney.”

Trump, Thursday, in Portland, Maine

"I backed Mitt Romney. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He would have dropped to his knees."

Mitt Romney, Feb. 2, 2012, at the Trump Hotel Las Vegas

“Being in Donald Trump’s magnificent hotel and getting his endorsement is a delight. I’m so honored and pleased to have his endorsement, and of course, I’m looking for the endorsement of the people of Nevada."

Trump, Oct. 3, 2012, on Twitter

Romney, Thursday, in Salt Lake City

“Let me put it plainly, if we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished.”

Trump, Feb. 2, 2012, on Fox News

“I mean, I think he's going to be terrific. I think he's going to run a great campaign. He'll probably win now, and I think he'll probably beat Obama. Obama's got tremendous baggage, tremendous!”

Romney, Feb. 2, 2012, in Las Vegas

“Donald Trump has shown an extraordinary ability to understand how our economy works to create jobs for the American people. He’s done it here in Nevada, he’s done it across the country. He understands that our economy is facing threats from abroad. He’s one of the few people who stood up and said, you know what, China has been cheating, they’ve taken jobs from Americans, they haven’t played fair. We have to have a president that will stand up to cheaters.”

Romney, Thursday, on Twitter

Romney, Feb. 2, 2012, in Las Vegas

“It means a great deal to me to have the endorsement of Mr. Trump and people across this country who care about America.”

Trump, Nov. 4, 2012, on Twitter

Romney, Thursday in Salt Lake City

“Mr. Trump is directing our anger for less than noble purposes. He creates scapegoats of Muslims and Mexican immigrants, he calls for the use of torture and for killing the innocent children and family members of terrorists. He cheers assaults on protesters. He applauds the prospect of twisting the Constitution to limit First Amendment freedom of the press. This is the very brand of anger that has led other nations into the abyss.”

Trump, Feb. 2, 2012, on Fox News

“But I know Mitt Romney. And I've gotten to know him very well. And he's a fine man, but he's a tough man, and he's a smart man, and that's what we need in this country.”

Romney, Feb. 3, 2012, on Fox News

“Very pleased [with the endorsement]. He's a man who's created a lot of jobs. And he shares my concern about China, yeah, the fact that China has been able to run roughshod over many industries in this country. And that presidents have looked at it. Have complained about it. But really haven't taken action to stop China from taking away our jobs.”

Trump, Thursday, in Portland, Maine

“We had a fundraiser at my apartment at Trump Tower. And it was so oversubscribed. I did a great job. They couldn’t have cared less about [Romney]. In fact, a lot of them said, ‘Donald, he’s a stiff. He’s not gonna win.’ I said, ‘Oh, he’ll be fine.’ He’s a stiff. I should have listened to the guy. But we had a fundraiser, and it was so big, and it was raining out, I won’t forget this one. It was raining and really raining — a miserable, miserable day, and the people came in, hundreds and hundreds of people in phase one. Then we said, there’s too many people to put 'em in one, so we called for another one an hour later, after it ended one hour, and because everybody’s shoes were so wet, I ruined my carpet. This carpet was wiped out. And nobody thanked me for the carpet. Hey, maybe I can send Mitt a bill for carpet ruined, right?”

Trump, Feb. 2, 2012, on Fox News

“Well, I only got to know him over the last three or four months. I mean, I haven't known him for a very long period of time, and I didn't know too much about him. And certainly, he's done an amazing job and he's put a lot of people to work. And he's really — I think he's starting to be very proud, to be honest with you.”

Romney, Thursday, in Salt Lake City

“Here's what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. 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.”

Trump, Feb. 25, on Twitter

Romney, Monday, on Twitter

Trump, Feb. 3, 2012, on Fox News

“Boy, would you have a story if I nominate, if I endorse somebody and then say, oh, I'm going to run. That would be a pretty major story, right?"

Sean Hannity: “That would be a pretty major story.”

“No, I'm very, very happy with Mitt Romney. I endorsed him and I think he is going to be a great — I think he's going to be a great candidate.”

Romney, Thursday, in Salt Lake City

“Attacking me as he surely will won't prove him any less of a phony. It's entirely in his hands to prove me wrong. All he has to do is to release his back taxes like he promised he would, and let us hear what he said behind closed doors to The New York Times.”

Trump, Thursday, in Portland, Maine

"He’s a choke artist. ... He doesn’t have what it takes to be president, that I can tell you.”