Story highlights
NEW: Donald Trump said he will decide whether to release his tax returns and called Mitt Romney "yesterday's news"
The 2012 Republican nominee's broadside followed Trump's thumping victories in three of the first four GOP nominating contests
Romney warned Wednesday that Donald Trump's tax returns could contain a "bombshell"
Watch CNN’s Republican debate live on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
(CNN) —
Donald Trump is striking back at Mitt Romney on Thursday, after the 2012 Republican presidential nominee said his party’s current front-runner could have a “bombshell” in his tax returns.
“Mitt Romney, who was one of the dumbest and worst candidates in the history of Republican politics, is now pushing me on tax returns. Dope!” the billionaire businessman said in a series of Tweets attacking Romney.
Trump wrote that tax returns have zero to do with a person’s net worth, and all swung at the establishment wing of the Republican party, many of whom have coalesced behind Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as an answer to Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
“Why doesn’t @MittRomney just endorse @marcorubio already. Should have done it before NH or Nevada where he had a little sway. Too late now!”
Trump said, “I’m going to do what @MittRomney was totally unable to do- WIN!”
Romney used the same medium to respond, tweeting back at the billionaire businessman Thursday.
“Methinks the Donald doth protest too much. Show voters your back taxes, @realDonaldTrump. #WhatIsHeHiding,” Romney tweeted.
The real estate mogul first rejected Romney’s accusation out of hand in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Wednesday, saying “there is no bombshell at all other than I pay a lot of tax and the government wastes the money.”
Romney’s biting attack hinted at clear signs of alarm in the Republican establishment at the billionaire’s tightening grip on the party’s presidential race.
“We have good reason to believe that there’s a bombshell in Donald Trump’s taxes,” Romney told Fox News, and also called on the top anti-Trump contenders Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio to disclose their tax information as well.
“Either he’s not anywhere near as wealthy as he says he is, or he hasn’t been paying taxes we would expect him to pay or perhaps he hasn’t been giving money to vets or to the disabled like he’s been telling us he’s been doing,” Romney added.
Nightcap: Mitt Romney predicts a ‘bombshell’ in Donald Trump’s taxes | Sign up
01:44 - Source: CNN
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