Romney, potential U.S. secretary of
state, hails Trump after dinner
| NEW YORK
Republican Mitt Romney made an impassioned statement in support
of President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to try to erase doubts
about him among Trump's supporters and remain in contention for
U.S. secretary of state.
of President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to try to erase doubts
about him among Trump's supporters and remain in contention for
U.S. secretary of state.
Romney, a fierce critic of Trump during the Republican presidential
primary battle, stopped short of an outright apology but his
intention to wipe the slate clean was clear.
primary battle, stopped short of an outright apology but his
intention to wipe the slate clean was clear.
The former Massachusetts governor, who was the Republican
presidential nominee in 2012 and lost, praised Trump for a
"message of inclusion and bringing people together" since
his Nov. 8 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
presidential nominee in 2012 and lost, praised Trump for a
"message of inclusion and bringing people together" since
his Nov. 8 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Noting the appointments Trump has made to fill key
cabinet positions for his administration and his desire for
greater unity among Americans, Romney said that "all of
those things combined give me increasing hope that President-
elect Trump is the very man who can lead us" to a better future.
cabinet positions for his administration and his desire for
greater unity among Americans, Romney said that "all of
those things combined give me increasing hope that President-
elect Trump is the very man who can lead us" to a better future.
Romney made his remarks after a lengthy meal with Trump
and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus
at a French restaurant at a Trump hotel in Manhattan. They
dined on garlic soup with frog legs, scallops, steak and lamb chop.
and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus
at a French restaurant at a Trump hotel in Manhattan. They
dined on garlic soup with frog legs, scallops, steak and lamb chop.
Since Trump began to seriously consider Romney as a potential
secretary of state, some on Trump's team have voiced doubts
about bringing in a former critic and rallied around their
preferred candidate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani,
a long-time Trump friend and loyalist.
secretary of state, some on Trump's team have voiced doubts
about bringing in a former critic and rallied around their
preferred candidate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani,
a long-time Trump friend and loyalist.
Leading this effort in an unusually public way has been senior
Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, who told a round of television
interviews on Sunday that Trump supporters would feel
"betrayed" if Romney was picked.
Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, who told a round of television
interviews on Sunday that Trump supporters would feel
"betrayed" if Romney was picked.
Trump, however, has kept Romney in contention for the secretary
of state position, and a Republican source close to the transition
effort said Priebus has been pushing for Romney behind the scenes.
of state position, and a Republican source close to the transition
effort said Priebus has been pushing for Romney behind the scenes.
"I had a wonderful evening with President-elect Trump," Romney
said in remarks to reporters after the dinner. "We had another
discussion about affairs throughout the world and these discussions
I've had with him have been enlightening, and interesting,
and engaging. I've enjoyed them very, very much."
said in remarks to reporters after the dinner. "We had another
discussion about affairs throughout the world and these discussions
I've had with him have been enlightening, and interesting,
and engaging. I've enjoyed them very, very much."
A senior Trump aide described Romney's remarks as "solid."
Trump is to meet on Friday for the second time with retired
Marine Corps General John Kelly as part of his secretary of
state search, the aide said.
Marine Corps General John Kelly as part of his secretary of
state search, the aide said.
Trump is also considering U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee,
who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Corker met Trump at Trump Tower earlier
on Tuesday and told reporters afterward
that Trump "needs to choose someone
that he’s very comfortable with and he
knows there’s going be no daylight
between him and them."
on Tuesday and told reporters afterward
that Trump "needs to choose someone
that he’s very comfortable with and he
knows there’s going be no daylight
between him and them."
"The world needs to know that the
secretary of state is someone who speaks
fully for the president and again, that’s a
decision he’s going to have to make," Corker said.
secretary of state is someone who speaks
fully for the president and again, that’s a
decision he’s going to have to make," Corker said.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Nick Macfie)
