Mike Pence says Romney under ‘active consideration’ for secretary of state
Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is under “active consideration” to serve as US secretary of state along with other candidates, Vice President-elect Mike Pence said on Fox News Sunday.
Trump was “very grateful that governor Mitt Romney came in. They had a good meeting. It was a warm and a substantive exchange and I know he is under active consideration to be secretary of state ... along with some other distinguished Americans.”
But Democrats were sceptical that Romney is an actual contender.
Representative Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, said on CNN Sunday that he would love Romney to get the position and he would be a “consummate diplomat”.
“But I think it’s a total head fake. I think this is Donald Trump still being the entertainer, still running a show where he wants to build suspense and he alone knows who the contestant will be the winner. It’s more of a nod to the appearance of bringing people together.”
Also on Sunday, Pence said he was not offended by pointed comments made to him by a cast member of Hamilton after he attended the hit Broadway show.
“I wasn’t offended,” Pence said on Fox New Sunday, declining to ask for an apology as President Donald Trump had demanded. Pence acknowledged that many Americans were disappointed and anxious after Trump’s November 8 election victory, but he sought to reassure Americans that Trump would be a president “for all Americans”.
“We, sir - we - are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” Dixon said. Pence sought to address Dixon’s concerns. “They are going to see President-elect Trump be a president for all of the people and we embrace that principle,” Pence said.
Trump criticised the cast in a series of tweets on Saturday and again on Sunday.
“The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Saturday, taking time out from his search for appointees to his incoming administration.
“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!”
Pence praised the hit show and urged people to see it. Trump called the sold-out show “highly overrated” on Sunday. Pence noted that there were some boos and cheers when he arrived at the theatre. He recalled telling his kids of the response: “That’s what freedom sounds like.”
