Senator Mitt Romney, once the Republican presidential candidate, has made his decision persona non grata After twice voting to impeach President-elect Donald Trump, he softened slightly in a Sunday interview on CNN. In conversation with Jake Tapper state of the nation, The soon-to-retire senator from Utah said:
MAGA Is The republican party and Donald Trump Is The republican party Today. And if you asked me who the nominee would be in 2028, it would be JD Vance. In order? He’s clever, articulate and part of the MAGA movement.
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Tapper interjected by confronting Romney with previous criticism of Vance, which Romney quickly brushed off, saying:
I won’t rehash the story, and we’ve worked together in the Senate ever since.
Romney continued:
This is the Republican Party. Does the party have to change? Look, the Republican Party has become the party of working- and middle-class voters. And you have to give Donald Trump credit for doing that – he took it away from the Democrats.
Mitt Romney: “MAGA is the Republican Party and Donald Trump is now the Republican Party…The Republican Party has become the party of working-class and middle-class voters. And you have to give Donald Trump credit for that.” – taking that away from the Democrats.” pic.twitter.com/1lZQNs9q3w
— Julia 🇺🇸 (@Jules31415) December 15, 2024
The broken clock strikes again. Populism, as represented by the MAGA movement, is about the idea of representing the interests and concerns of the American working class against what they perceive as a politically out-of-touch political establishment. This populist vision often pits the “elites” – including political figures, corporate leaders and the legacy media – against the “ordinary people,” leading to “America First” politics. This form of populism prioritizes policies that protect U.S. jobs, industries, and national sovereignty.
Read more:
I’m starting to think Trump Derangement Syndrome isn’t about Trump
Populism is the power struggle over MAGA
However, Romney’s recent views contrast with his view of the party’s caucuses just over a year ago. In September 2023, he did not predict the continued influence of MAGA forces within the party, but described himself as part of what he called the “wise” and enduring wing of the Republicans.
As he announced that he would not run for re-electionRomney said CNN:
Thump Is The Leader of The most of it The republican party. There is a populist, demagogic part of it The party. I represent a petite wing of The party. I call it The wise wing of The republican party. I don’t think we’re leaving.
After the November election, even Romney can’t deny MAGA’s lasting influence. Romney now acknowledges that Trump’s populism has reshaped the party, particularly in appealing to working-class voters. His prediction that JD Vance will be the 2028 Republican presidential nominee further solidifies the evolution of a party firmly in the grip of Trumpism.
Romney’s term ends on January 3, 2025.
