Will Romney be the Next Secretary of State?

This weekend, former 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney and president-elect Donald Trump are set to meet and discuss “governing moving forward” and a possible cabinet position for Romney. The meeting comes on the heels of a series of intense meetings with high-ranking Republicans. Rumor has it, Trump will be meeting with Romney to discuss the position of Secretary of State.

When it comes to fulfilling the role of secretary of state, Romney is not the only candidate Trump is considering along with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The short of list of Secretary of State candidates is a wide array of experience and understanding of the political process. 

Trump has shown himself to be a person who holds loyalty in high regard and, unless he has forgotten about Romney calling him “a phony” and “a fraud,” the chances of Romney beating out his competitors for the final rose is not likely. Then again, stranger things have happened. Nevertheless, the Romney-Trump meeting gives both parties a chance to bury the hatchet and move forward as allies. 

For Trump the transition into president from real estate mogul will not be without its challenges and having allies such as Romney will serve him well. Even though Romney did not win in 2012, Romney served as governor of Massachusetts from 2003-2007 and understands the nuances of what it is like to go from private sector CEO to elected official.  

As Secretary of State, Romney brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge, making it a no-brainer as to why he made the list and, while his outspokenness during the election cycle did not make him any friends on the Trump Train, it shows he is not afraid to go against the crowd. For a president who is used to being surrounded by yes men, appointing a secretary of state like Romney would be an asset since he is not afraid of speaking up even at the risk of being unpopular. Romney would also quell the minds of worried Washingtonians, who have fretted over the lack of experience in Trump’s current cabinet.

Romney’s deep executive experience coupled with his ability to hold steady on even the most unfavorable of stances makes him a strong choice as Secretary of State. 

At the end of the day, Trump needs to appoint a Secretary of State who possesses knowledge of government operations, strong executive experience, and ability to stand up to foreign threats and not be pushed around (I’m looking at you Vladimir Putin). If there is one thing Trump should understand ahead of his Secretary of State appointment it is this; the role of Secretary of State has a steep learning curve and should not be filled as a result of a campaign promise, but rather by someone who already has some governmental experience under their belt and is prepared to always keep America’s best interest at heart.