Mitt Romney predicts Trump’s re-election

In this file photo, Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop in Utah, March 3, 2018 | Associated Press photo by Rick Bowmer, St. George News

PARK CITY, UTAH (AP) — He once called Donald Trump “a con man,” but Mitt Romney is now predicting that Trump will “easily” win his party’s presidential nomination in 2020 and “solidly” win a second term. The president, in turn, called Romney “a straight shooter.”

Romney, the GOP’s failed 2012 presidential nominee from Massachusetts, now a Republican Senate candidate in Utah, made the prediction Thursday as he welcomed dozens of high-profile business and political leaders to a mountainside retreat in Utah. As he has every year since 2012, Romney played host to an invitation-only summit focused on the future of American leadership at home and abroad.

The future, he predicted, would feature Trump as America’s leader in a second term as president.

“I think that not just because of the strong economy and the fact that people are going to see increasingly rising wages,” Romney said, “but I think it’s also true because I think our Democrat friends are likely to nominate someone who is really out of the mainstream of American thought and will make it easier for a president who’s presiding over a growing economy.”

Asked about Romney’s comments as he left the White House Friday, Trump said he appreciated his formal rival’s assessment.

Mitt’s a straight shooter — whether people love him or don’t love him,” Trump said.

The remarks from Romney marked a sharp reversal, in tone if not substance, from his original characterization of Trump. Romney briefly served as the face of the so-called “Never Trump” movement before the 2016 election. He delivered a scathing speech in Utah before the 2016 election, calling Trump “a con man” and “a fake.”

Yet Romney’s criticism has softened since then. And now, in the midst of a Republican Senate primary campaign, the former Massachusetts governor appears to be embracing Trump and his leadership role in the modern-day Republican Party.

He delivered the remarks on the first day of the three-day, closed-door summit. The Associated Press was allowed to listen to Romney’s remarks during the event’s opening reception.

Dignitaries on the guest list included House Speaker Paul Ryan, billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, in addition to former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and former Domino’s Pizza CEO Patrick Doyle.

While there were many Trump skeptics in the crowd, a handful of Trump loyalists were in attendance as well, including short-lived White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci and Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman.

It won’t be all business.

Guests will have an opportunity to go skeet shooting with Ryan or hiking with Romney.

“I’m looking forward to an unusual and packed couple of days here,” Romney said, suggesting he would have little more to say about politics. “Campaigns are off limits.”

Written by STEVE PEOPLES, Associated Press.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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18 Comments

  • westernperson June 9, 2018 at 4:29 pm

    We will vote for Dr. Kennedy. We are still disgusted with Mitt’s sad and weak performance when he debated Obama.

    • NotSoFast June 9, 2018 at 6:02 pm

      Totally agree. If Romney thought he could salvage his image, he would load up his U Haul, smile and move to California or Michigan in a heartbeat. Kennedy is straight shooter. No fluff, tells it like it is.

    • Tyler June 9, 2018 at 6:27 pm

      You have a mouse in your pocket or did you mean to talk in the third person.

    • Chris June 9, 2018 at 10:04 pm

      Who is is this “we”? Mitt wins going away. Both Mitt and Mike are carpetbaggers from Michigan.

    • vintagehippie June 10, 2018 at 12:17 am

      I completely agree that Kennedy is the right man for the job. I was also disappointed by Mitt’s attacks on now President Trump prior to the elections. I view his attacks as virtually endorsing Hillary, and that is unexcusable…….

  • Kilroywashere June 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    I could go either way, but I am leaning towards Mitt. It has taken me a long time to get over what he did to P.Trump during the campaign, but as of now he has the endorsement of the current President. So if the President can forgive him then so can I. You have to admit the Donald was brutal during the Republican debates, and you can’t blame Mitt for fighting back. If he does win the Senate race, he will already have clout whereas Kennedy will be starting at the bottom. Both candidates have things I like and dislike, but my fear of Kennedy is that he will side with hard right Republicans and thwart the President’ s legislative agenda. Not saying that is or would be the case, but the tax cuts barely made it through with a lot of compromises and political sacrafice at the behest of regular Americans. If he had the endorsement of President Trump then that would change things. It truly is a close call for me personally.

  • mshaw June 9, 2018 at 8:52 pm

    MIT is a carpet bagger that flip flops to best suit him at the moment. I will vote kennedy

    • Chris June 9, 2018 at 10:05 pm

      and where is Kennedy from? Oh, yeah, Michigan just like Mitt.

  • DesertBill June 9, 2018 at 9:05 pm

    Well, I just shifted my vote from Romney to Kennedy. Anyone who can support the lying, disgusting, divisive, racist, licentious leader of our country, just lost my vote.

  • asianspa June 9, 2018 at 9:32 pm

    I don’t know what is worse an endorsement from Romney or one from Trump. This is the state after all that had a lot of the dumb dumbs moe’s thinking that Evan McMuffin was going to win by some majestic mathematic and procedural mormon miracle. Not sure how they like their white horse Mitt Romney getting that nice , sweet , praise from the mouth of our uncensored, uncut, President.

  • Kilroywashere June 9, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    Oh… whew. I smell that “T”een Party spirit. Nirvana would be proud. Stack the comment section. At least one of us is apolitical and just making a comment. Haven’t had that spirit here since the County Attorneys’ election, a few years back. Or was it 1969? Where’s Dessert Girl & Mr. Comments when you need them. Lol. Got to love politics these days. Be real. The comments section of STG will make no difference in the elections outcome. Especially when you can’t even be funny or make a real point.

  • jaltair June 10, 2018 at 12:23 am

    I  will NOT vote for Romney because of how ineffective he was during his run in 2012 against Obama as well as the fact of him having been a stalwart opponent of Trump, a “Never Trumper,” furthering the division and hysteria that has grown from the 2016 Presidential election.

    Romney should have won against Obama,  and probably would have if he had called out Obama’s lack of transparency and the intentional cover-up surrounding the Bengazi events. 

    Romney has indirectly and directly contributed to the division in this country by allowing the “Great Race Divider and Chief” to have a second term and by being a “Never Trumper.”

    Romney is milk toast and without much substance.  He may have pulled Utah out of trouble with the Olympics, but that doesn’t make him a Utahan by any stretch. 

  • mmsandie June 10, 2018 at 9:05 am

    Mitt is as untrustworthy worthy as Trump, when he said no more politics, wanted to be with his family,, and now running for senate, it’s another stepp8ng stone to run for president after Trump or someone who will be elected.. don,t think trump will make a 2 nd term the way things are going now, the economy growth has nothing to do wit( trump.
    Mitt was governor of Massachusetts, and he lived about his residence there in order to run.. he used his sons house address for his.. so why trust him now.. my friends who live in Mass. Said they were happy to get him out of there..
    Trump flip flops everyday with comments and is hurting himself and America with his Twitter comments…

  • bikeandfish June 10, 2018 at 9:31 am

    Putting money on a Trump second term is definitely the safe bet; he has the benefit of being the incumbent and a thriving economy (which he deserves some credit for alongside the previous administration and alot of non-federal variables). Granted, Romney is a little more idealistic in believing wages and salaries will go up; they haven’t it ages and still haven’t risen properly in the last 18 months despite the buoying economy.

    Romney isn’t a sure thing this election but he has a strong chance.

  • Carpe Diem June 10, 2018 at 10:01 am

    Mitt is two faced… Fellow nevertrumpers McCain and Bill Kristol – among others – keep their TDS nastiness stoked… Mitt has to drop the sword only to shine his election signs.

  • Kilroywashere June 10, 2018 at 12:58 pm

    Where’s that Huntsman guy? Oh, in Russia. Too bad he isn’t running. Bikeandfish, guess we’re the only ones with open minds. The undecided. Local Romney supporters not in this house, LOL. Wa. County seems sold on Kennedy, or Romney folks are behind the times on social media campaigning. Not a single diehard supporter in these comments yet. I’m still undecided but leaning Romney as previously stated, but truly amazed the local Romney campaign manager hasn’t taken 3 min to add a positive comment. That is baffling. You think that is a sign of some kind? Maybe there is a flaw in his strategy. We know what President Trump would do. Hey Mitt, you want to be upset by Kennedy, STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. Nixon vs. Kennedy TV debate WITHOUT MAKE UP you lose. Without social media presence YOU LOSE. Your local campaign manager/affiliate is either a slacker or maybe reads the Spectrum News paper version instead of going online. Hello, is there anybody out there, or have you already surrendered.

  • Anejo June 10, 2018 at 3:40 pm

    I’m going to have a closer look at Craig Bowden. Marine corps veteran. Strong libertarian. Wants to end the war on drugs and repeal the patriot act.

    He’s from Utah and lives in Utah too which makes sense when you’re trying to fight for Utah’s interests.

  • RadRabbit June 11, 2018 at 4:48 pm

    He was the best option in 2012 by a long shot but in this case Kennedy is the way to go in my opinion. I don’t think Mitts a bad guy just not fond of his politics.

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