Mitt Romney, a Republican senator, on Tuesday attacked US President Donald Trump’s behaviour ahead of the election. He said that the world is watching the “vile” US political scene with “horror”, reported AFP. 

Romney, who is one of the few prominent Republicans to frequently criticise Trump since he was elected, said, “It is time to lower the heat.”

The Utah senator lashed out at Trump and his opponents Joe Biden for shifting the nature of politics “from spirited debate to a vile, vituperative, hate-filled morass that is unbecoming of any free nation — let alone the birthplace of modern democracy.”

The only member of the Republican Senate majority, who voted for Trump’s impeachment conviction in February, also schooled the President for calling Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris a “monster” and the Democratic leader of the House Nancy Pelosi “crazy.”

While Romney also criticised “blistering attacks” by Democrats, he took the unusual step three weeks out from the presidential election of highlighting what he said was Biden’s refusal “to stoop as low as others.”

Romney’s statement went after media organisations which he said “amplify” the brutal political fighting.

And referring to a failed plot to kidnap the Democratic governor of Michigan — herself a frequent target of Trump’s violent criticism — he warned that “rabid attacks kindle the conspiracy mongers and the haters.”

“The world is watching America with abject horror,” said Romney, who lost the 2012 election to Barack Obama.

“Many Americans are frightened for our country — so divided, so angry, so mean, so violent.”

“The consequence of the crescendo of anger leads to a very bad place. No sane person can want that,” he said.