Socialites, get into this, Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, will not run for re-election next year. He announced his big move said in a video statement Wednesday.
“I have spent my last 25 years in public service of one kind or another. At the end of another term, I’d be in my mid-80s. Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders. They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in,” Romney who’s an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump said. He added: “While I’m not running for re-election, I’m not retiring from the fight. I’ll be your United States senator until January 2025.”
He went on to criticize both Trump and President Joe Biden: “The next generation of leaders must take America to the next stage of global leadership.”
“We face critical challenges — mounting national debt, climate change, and the ambitious authoritarians of Russia and China. Neither President Biden nor former President Trump are leading their party to confront them,” Romney said in his statement. Interestingly enough, a White House official said Wednesday night that Biden spoke with Romney by phone after Romney made his announcement.
While the political jab came as a little surprise, he’s no stranger to throwing them at Donald Trump. Previously he expressed concern when Trump first ran for president back in 2016. He criticized him during his four years in office.
“Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University,” Romney said in a major speech during the GOP presidential primary race in 2016. “He’s playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat.”
Furthermore, he was the only Senate Republican to join Democrats who voted to convict Trump during the first Senate impeachment trial in 2020. In addition to that, was also one of 10 Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump during the second impeachment trial in 2021 after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Mitt Romney’s announcement not to run for re-election in 2024 marks a significant turning point in his political career and leaves a notable impact on the Republican Party. As a respected and influential figure, his absence in future political campaigns may be felt by both his supporters and those seeking a more moderate approach within the GOP. Regardless of his decision, Romney’s legacy of public service and commitment to bipartisan collaboration will continue to shape American politics for years to come.
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