Denouncing then GOP candidate Donald Trump at the University of Utah March 3, 69-year-old 2016 GOP nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney thought he could sway the Republican race, calling Trump a “fraud,” “phony” and “con man,” continuing the GOP narrative of a “carnival barker.” Little did GOP insiders know that Trump was on the pulse of GOP voters, disgusted with business-as-usual, tired of the same politicians recycled every election cycle. Romney didn’t take Trump seriously in March, 2016, despite watching the real estate tycoon steamroll through the South, decimating prohibitive favorites like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.). Romney’s last-ditch attempt to stop Trump backfired, propelling Trump to wrap up the nomination May 3 winning the Indiana primary. Now Trump wants to bury the hatchet.
When you consider Trump’s finalists for the most important job in the Cabinet, Secretary of State, including former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani, former Bush-43 U.N. ambassador John Bolton, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Romney displays the right kind of qualities for Secretary of State. While campaigning against President Barack Obama in 2012, Romney didn’t show the foreign policy chops needed to convince voters that they should deny Barack as second term. Trump once said Romney “choked like a dog” running a failed campaign against Obama. Both men look to put aside their differences and find ways to utilize each other’s talents. With all the bad blood, especially Romney’s public attacks, it speaks volumes about Trump that he’s willing to put aside the insults and do what’s right for the country.
Romney carries some unique traits not seen in any of the other candidates. Whether he’s as up-to-speed on foreign policy or not, Romney has the even-keeled temperament to accomplish Trump’s goals of resetting U.S.-Russian relations. His lack of opinions on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea actually work to Romney’s advantage. When Trump sits down with Romney this weekend, they’ll no doubt discus how Mitt could serve the Trump administration. Romney must agree with Trump’s promises to scale back U.S. involvement in Mideast wars, especially ending the Saudi-U.S.-funded proxy war in Syria. Trump knows that his possible picks oppose a reset of U.S.-Russian relations, especially Bolton. Sen. John McCain (R-Az,) urged Obama Oct. 10 to set up a no-fly zone in Aleppo to protect Saudi-U.S.-backed rebel forces, threatening to shoot down Syrian and Russian warplanes.
Romney must agree 100% with Trump’s plans to reset relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, someone McCain calls an untrustworthy former KGB agent. Romney’s lack of definitive views on foreign policy puts him at top of the list. Picking Trump loyalist Rudi Giuliani presents a very different image to world powers. Unlike the more brash Giuliani, Romney’s refined diplomatic skills would serve Trump well as Secretary of State. If the meeting takes place between Trump and Giuliani this weekend, it signals Mitt’s intent to take the job. There’s no point in meeting with Trump unless Mitt’s serious about returning to government service. “Mitt is a statesman who loves his country,” said an unnamed long-time Romney advisor. Trump wouldn’t ask for a meeting with Mitt unless he was prepared to offer the former GOP nominee the biggest prize in his Cabinet.
Mending fences with Mitt shows that Trump’s serious about putting the best possible team in place to start his new government. Trump knows that Secretary of State is the key position in his Cabinet. Picking Mitt extinguishes what’s left of the sour grapes Republicans opposed to Trump’s presidency. Romney would be in a good position of coordinating with McCain on a new direction for U.S foreign policy. Romney could help placate GOP hawks itching for a military confrontation with Russia and Iran, no matter how insane. When Romney tweeted Trump this week congratulating him on his victory, possibilities opened for Mitt playing a key role in Trump’s Cabinet. Trump showed he was willing to let go of the past and look ahead to building the strongest possible White House team Trump’s spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway confirmed the meeting with Mitt was in the works.
Picking Mitt for Secretary of State would be a win-win for the Trump White House. Trump gets the backing of a mainstream Republican while, at the same time, Mitt gets to end his political career as the nation’s leading diplomat. Unlike other possible candidates for Secretary of State, Mitt looks more flexible adopting Trump’s foreign policy goals, especially resetting U.S.-Russian relations and defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS]. None of Trump’s other options offer a better pick than Mitt, whose presence on the world stage makes him an ideal fit for Secretary of State. Trump’s willingness to consider one of his most vocal critics shows that politics makes strange bedfellows, bringing bitter rivals on the same page. If Romney’s willing to take the job, Trump would be wise to close the deal. Mitt’s got all the right stuff to remake U.S. foreign policy.
