Romney talks Trump, the state of U.S. politics, and makes a 2028 prediction
September 2025 – Drew University welcomed former senator and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as the first Drew Forum speaker in the 2025-26 season.
The event, sponsored by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, was moderated by CNN’s Dana Bash and featured a lively conversation about the present and future of U.S. politics and myriad hot-button issues.
The event marked Romney’s first public appearance during the second Trump term. A few soundbites:
On the Charlie Kirk murder and shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan
“Just horrified, as you can imagine,” Romney said of the Charlie Kirk murder in Utah.
“Whether it’s that church or any church, an attack on a religious institution where people are worshipping is unimaginable, unthinkable, and inexcusable,” Romney added on the Monday shooting at the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.
Is America broken?
“People want to come here, but there are aspects of our society right now that are troubled and broken and one, certainly, is the vitriol and the vile rhetoric that sometimes is launched at people who are different than ourselves whether because of their beliefs, or religion, or ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We have to get along.”
The FCC threatening Jimmy Kimmel
“We are not free if we can’t speak freely,” said Romney to mass applause. “What does it mean to be a free nation? At some point you have to say what is Russia and what do they do over there…and here’s America, we don’t do that stuff, and we believe in free expression and we’re not going to interfere with that.”
What’s really important to the American public?
“They’re concerned about inflation and they’re concerned about illegal immigration and Donald Trump has stopped the illegal immigration and people are very happy that he did that. They don’t feel progress on inflation yet and they’re concerned about that. They’re concerned about the jobs that they have and the jobs their kids may or may not be able to get.”
The Russia-Ukraine conflict
“I am one who believes that when a nation stands up to Russia as Ukraine has, that we need to give them whatever support we possibly can…I really don’t know where President Trump is right now on Ukraine, but if he gets tougher on Russia and Vladimir Putin, I will applaud that. Letting Vladimir Putin come to Alaska and get a red carpet? Oh boy. And then 500 drones attacked Ukraine today? This has gone on for years. This is unimaginable. And we need to stand up for our friends in Ukraine.”
On the 2028 election
“I think JD Vance becomes the Republican nominee and probably the next president. I’m not saying that’s my preference, I’m describing the what-is, not what-I-hope-would-be…If inflation continues to be high and people keep saying, ‘Hey, I thought everything was going to get better and prices were going to come down,’ and they don’t, that represents an opportunity for Democrats. Everything could swing around.”
At the event, Drew University President Hilary L. Link, PhD, announced the remaining 2025-26 Drew Forum lineup.
On February 3, 2026, New York Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez, will appear in an event moderated by President Link.
On April 20, 2026, bestselling author and journalist Douglas Murray will speak to close out the season.
Tickets for both events will go on sale to the public on October 3 and may be purchased at the MayoArts.org website and box office (973-539-8008).
