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Donald Trump dines with Mitt Romney as Secretary of State speculation continues

This is the second meeting between the two since the President-elect's victory

Feliks Garcia
New York
Wednesday 30 November 2016 03:37 GMT
Drew Angerer/Getty
Drew Angerer/Getty

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Two former political foes, Donald Trump and Mitt Romney, joined each other for dinner in their second meeting in just over a week. The former Massachusetts governor is in the running for Secretary of State.

The President-elect met with Mr Romney, joined by incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, at the Jean Georges restaurant in Trump International Hotel Tuesday night.

Following the dinner, Mr Romney said he was very "impressed" with Mr Trump and praised him for his transition. He did not indicate whether or not he was offered or will accept a role in the Cabinet.

"I happen to think that America's best days are ahead of us. I think you're going to see America continue to lead the world in this century," he told reporters outside the hotel. "And what I've seen through these discussions ... as well as what we've seen in his speech the night of his victory, as well as the people he 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."

During the presidential campaign, Mr Romney was one of the New York businessman’s fiercest critics, calling him a “phony” and a “fraud” in a public address in March.

Following their first meeting, Mr Trump’s top aide, Kellyanne Conway, criticised speculation that Mr Romney was in the running to run the State Department. She told CNN on Sunday that Trump supporters felt “betrayed” by the possibility.

“I’m all for a party of unity, but I’m not sure we have to pay for that with the Secretary of State position,” she said.

She claimed that she received a “huge deluge” of comments against Mr Romney.

MSNBC reported that Mr Trump’s top aides were “baffled” by her comments.

Ms Conway denied the report and dismissed it as “false” and “sexist”.

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