Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who once referred to President-elect Donald Trump as a "phony" and a "con man," is now singing a very different tune after reports that he's being considered for secretary of state.
"I had a wonderful evening with President-elect Trump," Romney said to reporters after dining on frog legs, scallops, and lamb chops in Trump International Hotel in New York, according to a Politico report on Tuesday. "We had another discussion about affairs throughout the world and these discussions I've had with him have been enlightening, and interesting, and engaging."
Politico also reported that Reince Priebus, who is joining the Trump White House as chief of staff, joined the dinner.
"I happen to think that America's best days are ahead of us," Romney said after the dinner. "And what I've seen through these discussions I've had with President-elect Trump, as well as what we've seen in his speech the night of his victory, as well as the people he's selected as part of his transition, all of those things combined give me increasing hope that President-elect Trump is the very man who can lead us to that better future."
These kind words directly contradict Romney's appraisal of Trump's character back in March, when he began a series of denunciations so fierce that many Trump supporters are openly opposing Romney's potential nomination for secretary of state.
"Mr. Trump is directing our anger for less than noble purposes," Romney told his audience at the time. "He creates scapegoats of Muslims and Mexican immigrants. He calls for the use of torture. He calls for killing the innocent children and family members of terrorists. He cheers assaults on protesters. He applauds the prospect of twisting the Constitution to limit First Amendment freedom of the press."
Politico described the dinner as a relatively easy-going affair. At one point Trump flashed a thumb's up when asked how things were going.
[caption id="attachment_14647798" align="alignnone" width="300"]
President-elect Donald Trump, center, eats dinner with Mitt Romney, right, and Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.[/caption]
CNN's Jim Acosta offered an illustrative blow-by-blow on his Twitter feed.
Shares