SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump says he’s “no longer angry” at Mitt Romney over his impeachment decision because the Utah senator supports a vote on the impending U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
“Do you see what’s going on with the Republican Party, how unified the Republican Party is? We’re unified. It’s a beautiful thing to say. Thank you, Mitt,” the president said at a campaign rally Thursday night in Jacksonville, Florida.
“Even Mitt’s on board,” he said. “It’s a good thing to see.”
Trump said all 197 Republicans in the House voted against the impeachment “hoax” but in the Senate the vote was “52 and a half to a half. That was Mitt.”
Romney voted to convict Trump of abuse of power and to acquit him of obstruction of Congress, the only Republican to do so.
“But that’s OK. I’m no longer angry at Mitt because he’s being very nice on the Supreme Court. He’s doing the right thing. I just want him to do the right thing,” Trump said.
On Tuesday, Romney, R-Utah, said he would vote on a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should a nominee reach the Senate floor.
“The historical precedent of election year nominations is that the Senate generally does not confirm an opposing party’s nominee but does confirm a nominee of its own,” he said in a statement Tuesday.
The Constitution gives the president the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees, Romney said.
“Accordingly, I intend to follow the Constitution and precedent in considering the president’s nominee,” he said. “If the nominee reaches the Senate floor, I intend to vote based upon their qualifications.”
I’m no longer angry at Mitt because he’s being very nice on the Supreme Court. He’s doing the right thing. I just want him to do the right thing.
–President Donald Trump
Romney’s decision helps firm up plans from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to hold a vote on Trump’s nominee before the Nov. 3 election.
In April, Trump acknowledged keeping Romney off a task force for reopening the U.S. economy amid the coronavirus pandemic because he has a gˇrudge against him.
“Yeah, it does,” the president said in response to a question about whether he holds a grudge over Romney’s impeachment trial vote.
Trump invited 70 senators, including all 52 of Romney’s GOP colleagues, to serve on the bipartisan task force
“I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney. I have 52 Republican senators,” the president said then. “I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney. I don’t really want his advice.”
Romney has been highly critical of Trump during his presidency, including on Thursday after the president wouldn’t commit to a peaceful transfer of power should he lose the election.
“Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus. Any suggestion that a president might not respect this Constitutional guarantee is both unthinkable and unacceptable,” Romney said.
Photos
Related Stories
Dennis RomboyMore stories you may be interested in
Why President Trump isn’t mad at Mitt Romney anymore /p>