Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is the leading contender to become the next Secretary of State, people familiar with the discussions told the Wall Street Journal.
Over the weekend, Romney and President-elect Donald Trump met up at Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey in a scheduled courteous visit, even though the two did not favor each other during Trump’s presidential campaign.
In March, Romney delivered a speech saying that Trump was a “fraud” with Trump retaliating by calling Romney a “choke artist.”
On Sunday, Vice President-elect Mike Pence told CBS News’ “Face The Nation” that the two men met up with one another to have more than a cordial meeting, but instead “a very substantive meeting.”
“We spent the better part of an hour together with him, and then I know that the two of them actually had some private time together,” Pence said. “I would tell you that it was not only a cordial meeting but also it was a very substantive meeting, and I can say that Gov. Romney is under active and serious consideration to serve as Secretary of State of the United States.”
“We had a far-reaching conversation with regards to the various theaters in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance,” Romney said, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Some other top picks vying for the position of Secretary of State include another leading candidate, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, as well as former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
One group of advisers to Trump are pushing him to select Rudy Giuliani while others are telling him to choose Romney. Another group of advisers are telling him to continue searching for other candidates.
Among the top contenders for the position of Secretary of Defense is General James Mattis who also met with Trump over the weekend.
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