In an exclusive interview on MSNBC's "The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle," Senator Mitt Romney expressed his disappointment with Republican lawmakers who rallied to Donald Trump's defense outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump's hush money trial is taking place. Romney, a vocal critic of Trump, argued that President Joe Biden should have pardoned Trump after the Justice Department brought indictments against the former president and pressured New York prosecutors not to pursue the ongoing trial.

Romney criticized the attacks on the legal system by Republicans, stating that it was a "terrible fault for our country" to witness such actions. He also found it demeaning for individuals to use the trial as a platform to vie for the vice presidential position, noting that he would have felt awkward in their shoes.

The Utah Republican further argued that President Biden made a mistake by not urging New York prosecutors to drop their case against Trump. Romney suggested that Biden should have followed the example of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who would have taken action to prevent such a trial from moving forward.

Regarding the question of whether Biden should have pardoned Trump, Romney expressed his support for separate branches of government but stated that if he were in Biden's position, he would have pardoned Trump immediately. Romney believed that doing so would have made Biden appear as the "big guy" while pardoning Trump would make him the "little guy."

Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson and several potential vice presidential picks for Trump, including Ohio Sen. JD Vance and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, expressed their support and loyalty for Trump in front of the Manhattan courthouse. They echoed Trump's unfounded accusations of the trial being a Democrat-led effort to interfere with his campaign.

In other news, Biden and Trump have agreed to participate in general election debates in June and September, with the first debate not having a live audience. Romney, who ran for president against Barack Obama in 2012, mentioned that people have low expectations for Biden but higher expectations for Trump. He anticipated a significant audience for the debates, as many Americans are curious to see how the two candidates perform when facing each other.

Romney acknowledged that he has had positive exchanges with Biden and observed Trump's energy and forcefulness during his rallies. However, he remained uncertain about what to expect when they go head-to-head in the debates, emphasizing the difference between speaking to a cheering crowd and engaging in-person debates.

The upcoming debates and ongoing trial against Trump continue to shape the political landscape as the nation closely watches these developments unfold.