Utah Senator Mitt Romney (R) has announced that he will not be running for reelection. Shortly after news began to spread that Senator Romney would be retiring from office, President Donald Trump (R) issued a response. In Trump-like fashion, the presidential hopeful celebrated Romney's retirement.
It’s no secret that Romney and Trump have had a difficult relationship.
Before Trump entered the White House, it was reported that Romney was vying for the Secretary of State position in the Trump administration. Romney even revealed that he had spoken to Secretary Hillary Clinton (D) in anticipation of taking on the position. However, when the idea didn’t come to fruition, Romney and Trump became bitter rivals. This culminated in Romney voting in favor of impeaching Trump.
After serving Utah as Senator, Romney has now announced that he will not be seeking reelection. In his comments, Romney called on a new generation of lawmakers beyond Trump and President Joe Biden (D).
Romney’s announcement has drawn a divisive response with Republicans both criticizing and praising him. Amidst the conversation, one political figure who’s now celebrating Romney’s exit is Trump.
Taking to social media, Trump shared his thoughts on Romney, saying that it’s “FANTASTIC NEWS FOR AMERICA, THE GREAT STATE OF UTAH & FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.”
Trump commented that Romney was going to face a difficult primary race and that he instead chose to bow out as opposed to losing a reelection bid.
Romney made the retirement announcement in a video statement, addressing that "at the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders.” “They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in,” Romney added.
Before becoming a Senator in Utah, Romney ran an unsuccessful campaign for the presidency in 2012 against President Barack Obama (D).
