Romney, potential US secretary of state, hails Trump after dinner

Donald Trump dined Tuesday at one of New York’s swankiest restaurants with Mitt Romney, his erstwhile foe turned potential frontrunner in the race to become America’s next secretary of state.

After the meal on Tuesday, Romney said he had been “impressed” by Trump’s victory speech and transition into his new role.

DETROW: Romney also praised some of the people that Trump has brought into his cabinet already, like South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

“These discussions I’ve had with him have been enlightening, and interesting, and engaging”, the 2012 GOP nominee told reporters outside the Jean Georges restaurant Nougatine, a restaurant in the Trump hotel at Central Park West. Romney further confirmed that he has confidence in Trump’s ability to lead, saying that America will remain a world leader throughout this century.

Romey’s name on Trump’s secretary of state shortlist has sparked controversy because the former MA governor was one of Trump’s most prominent and harshest critics.

Steven Mnuchin, a Wall Street veteran who served as Trump’s national finance chairman, could be named treasury secretary as early as Wednesday.

But Trump met with Romney on November 19, and also this Tuesday at a NY restaurant for a private dinner.

Mr Trump is to meet tomorrow, for the second time, retired marine corps general John Kelly as part of his secretary of state search, the aide said.

The former House speaker and longtime supporter of the president-elect was speaking to conservative radio host Laura Ingraham on Wednesday when she asked him what he thought about former MA governor being considered for secretary of State.

He said Mr Trump’s cabinet appointments and his wish for increased unity had changed his opinion. Mitt Romney, who previously served as Governor of MA is best known for his own presidential bid in 2012.

On Nov. 20, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said Romney was being considered as the future Secretary of State, but since then there have been some internal struggles for this position, some have also come to light.

“He did something I tried to do and was unsuccessful in accomplishing and he won the general election”.

Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, now a senior adviser to his transition, made the rounds of the Sunday news shows and excoriated Romney. He added that Trump “has shown an extraordinary ability to understand how our economy works to create jobs for the American people”.