A war of words between Rep. George Santos and high-profile Republican Sen. Mitt Romney. The two lawmakers shared a tense exchange before the State of the Union address Tuesday night.

The encounter started after the New York freshman congressman chose a prime spot at the SOTU along the middle aisle where lawmakers can shake hands with the president and other members as they walk into the House chamber.

Sen. Romney, of Utah, made it clear he did not think the embattled congressman had a earned a seat in Congress, period.

"I didn't expect that he'd be standing there trying to shake hands with every senator in the United States. Given the fact that he's under ethics investigation, he should be sitting in the back row and staying quiet," Romney told reporters after the president's speech.

When asked about the interaction, Rep. Santos replied, "It wasn't very Mormon of him. That's what I can tell you."

Santos has admitted to lying about the schools he attended, his employment history and family background. He is also facing investigations over his finances.

The GOP representative has claimed his sins are only "embellishing my resume." Sen. Romney has a different take and said he is disappointed that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has not called for Santos' resignation.

"Look, embellishing is saying you got an A when you got an A-minus. Lying is saying you graduated from a college you didn't even attend and he shouldn't' be in Congress," Sen. Romney added. "They're going to go through the process and hopefully get him out, but he shouldn't be there, and if he had any shame at all, he wouldn't be there."

Congressman Santos retorted with a tweet, that taunted Senator Romney's failed 2012 presidential bid, saying the Utah republican will never make it to the White House. He also told reporters Wednesday that he will not back down, even as calls for his resignation grow among his constituents and members of his own party.

"It's not the first time in history that I've been told to shut up and go to the back of the room, especially by people who come from a privileged background," Rep. Santos said. "And it's not going to be the last, and I'm never going to shut up and go to the back of the room."