Mitt Romney, former U.S. senator and Republican presidential nominee, said on April 17 that the country needs a unifying leader, effective government branches, and reliable allies to overcome current challenges. Romney spoke during a campus discussion with Jill Lepore, David Woods Kemper Professor of American History at Harvard University.
Romney addressed the increasing divisiveness in American politics over the last decade and concerns about foreign policy that appears to be distancing itself from historical allies. He said income inequality is a major cause of political polarization: “A lot of people feel that the American dream is not real for them,” he said. “It’s the college kids that are saying, ‘I took out a loan and I’m coming out of college, and I can’t get a job. This is simply not right. This is not fair.’”
Romney also cited social media’s role in undermining shared facts among voters, campaign financing by billionaires, and primary processes favoring extreme candidates as factors contributing to dysfunction in government. He noted legislators’ tendency to align with their party president rather than act independently has worsened partisanship.
He discussed changes in Senate rules for confirming judges as leading to perceptions of increased partisanship within the judiciary: “So now… when a court decision appears to go against one party or the other, more people assume it was politically motivated.” Romney acknowledged some actions by President Trump he agreed with but criticized others such as disputes with Canada or alienating European allies.
Looking ahead, Romney said he remains optimistic about America’s future but emphasized that overcoming these challenges will require strong leadership or collective action from new generations: “The reason I come and speak at a place like this is because you guys have the capacity to make a difference… If you want to do something, come on in, the water’s fine.”
Romney concluded by urging those interested in genuine governance rather than performance or social media fame to participate actively in politics.
