Former President Donald Trump‘s visit with Republicans on Capitol Hill last week did nothing to win over outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney to his cause.
Romney, 77, had initially planned to give the presumptive Republican nominee’s DC meeting with the Utahan’s Senate colleagues a miss — but changed his plans after his flight was canceled.
“I didn’t go there to support former President Trump. I went there to listen to what he was planning on doing if he became president,” Romney told CNN Tuesday.
“With President Trump, it’s a matter of personal character. I draw a line and say when someone has been actually found to have been sexually assaulting, that’s something I just won’t cross over in the person I would want to have as president of the United States.”
Romney was referencing Trump being found liable in May 2023 for sexual abuse and defamation of columnist E. Jean Carroll. Ultimately, a court demanded the presumptive Republican nominee pony up $88.3 million across two verdicts for defamation.
Trump has strenuously denied the accusations and pledged to appeal the ruling.
Last Thursday, Trump met with both House and Senate Republicans during a swing through the nation’s capital, which included his first face-to-face meeting with outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) since leaving office in January 2021.
Romney, who was the most recent Republican presidential standard-bearer prior to Trump, has long opposed the real estate mogul.
Back in 2016, Romney wrote in his wife, Ann, for the presidency and he has long publicly declared that he won’t vote for Trump come Nov. 5.
Shortly after the 2016 election, Romney dined with Trump and briefly toyed with the idea of seeking the secretary of state position, but was passed over in favor of Rex Tillerson.
In 2018, Romney successfully vied for the Senate and received Trump’s official stamp of approval. But, during his tenure, Romney emerged as one of Trump’s most outspoken GOP critics.
He was the only Republican senator who voted to convict Trump in his first impeachment trial and also backed a conviction in the 45th president’s second impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Romney announced last year that he would not pursue re-election, citing his age and a desire to step aside for the next generation.
