Mitt Romney for Secretary of State

Advisors close to Trump are anything but thrilled to hear Trump is still considering Mitt Romney for secretary of state, and as a result of Romney’s harsh criticisms of Trump throughout the 2016 campaign cycle, they are already telling Romney you can’t sit with us. However, Trump is unswayed by their pseudo Mean Girls chatter and much to the chagrin of Trump’s advisors, had a private dinner with Mitt Romney on Tuesday.

In the past Trump has touted loyalty above all else, which is why Trump loyalists are on the verge of a Mariah Carey meltdown should Trump tap Mitt Romney to serve as secretary of state. Romney used much of the 2016 cycle to publicly call Trump “a phony” and “a fraud.” While Romney is unable to turn back time, he does have a chance to assure Trump he can be trusted to defend and promote Trump’s markedly different worldview in capitals around the globe.

It may seem as though everyone on the Trump Train is praying Trump swipes left on Mitt Romney, there is one person occupying the cheering section for Romney, Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner. Kushner, who has served as an advisor to Trump throughout the entire election, favors Romney to fill the role of secretary of state.

Many people have cried foul over a Romney appointment, citing his lack of foreign policy experience, but the truth of the matter is, Trump’s decision may not be made on experience or repaying loyalty favors, but rather based on looks. Before running for public office, Trump spent 14 seasons on The Apprentice and one thing he learned was the importance of being camera ready, and Romney has a camera-ready face to represent America across the globe.

Aside from Mitt Romney’s dashing good looks, appointing him as secretary of State would send a strong message to Putin that Trump will be well advised. During the 2012 election, then Republican nominee Romney believed America needed to be tougher on Putin and called out Obama on his insufficient response to the security threat to America from Putin and Russia.

Romney may not bring the foreign policy experience other secretary of state candidates do, but he is well-traveled and has established relationships with many foreign leaders, including a friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which, after the last eight years of Obama’s tumultuous relationship with Israel, would help mend the strained relations with America’s long-time ally.

Besides Romney’s heavily-stamped passport and an international Rolodex of connections, he has a proven track record of excelling at every high profile job he has had. From his time as CEO and president of Salt Lake City’s 2002 Winter Olympics to his time as governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007, Romney has proven himself to be an even-keeled technocrat who can troubleshoot problems with poise and gravitas.

For some, the mere thought of appointing Mitt Romney as secretary of state has sent them into a Twitter Tirade (I’m looking at you, Kellyanne Conway), but the reality is that Romney as secretary of state would show Trump to be pragmatic in his approach to filling his cabinet. Choosing the next secretary of state is a business decision and not one to be filled as a result of campaign promises (yes, I’m talking about you, Rudy Giuliani).

At the end of the day, when it comes to fulfilling the role of secretary of state, Mitt Romney may not be the only candidate competing in the White House edition  of the Apprentice, but he is a viable option and one not to be underestimated. After all, if there is one thing Americans can count on when it comes to Trump choosing his cabinet, anything is possible and he will be anything but predictable.