the trump transition
Mitt Romney confirms he won't be secretary of state
By Chris Perez
December 12, 2016 | 10:31pm | Updated December 12, 2016 | 10:49pm
Donald Trump and Mitt Romney Reuters
Mitt Romney has confirmed that he will not be Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state.
"It was an honor to have been considered," Romney wrote in a Facebook post on Monday night.
"My discussions with President-elect Trump have been both enjoyable and enlightening. I have very high hopes that the new administration will lead the nation to greater strength, prosperity and peace."
The once vocal Trump critic — who even went so far as to label him a "phony" and "fraud" back in March — sat down with the President-elect at least twice in recent weeks as he weighed his options for secretary of state.
Sources familiar with the transition told CNN that Trump personally called Romney to inform him that he wouldn't be given the role.
He did this because he ultimately respected the 2012 GOP nominee and his willingness to play ball over the last month, the sources said.
While Romney blasted Trump for most of the year while he was on the campaign trail, he had a much different message once the real-estate mogul was elected president.
"It's not easy to win. I know that myself," Romney said on Nov. 29 after dining with Trump in Manhattan.
"He did something I tried to do and was unsuccessful in accomplishing and he won the general election," he added. "He continues to spread a message of inclusion and bringing people together. And his vision is something that obviously connected with the American people in a very powerful way."
It is unclear exactly why Romney was not selected for secretary of state. Sources told CNN that Trump wants to move in a different direction and find someone else for the position.
The President-elect revealed on Twitter on Monday night that he would announce his choice on Tuesday morning.
Filed under donald trump , mitt romney , the trump transition
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