Romney: Hillary, Bush Urged Me to Take Sec. of State Job

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney revealed Friday that Hillary Clinton and other former politicians urged him to consider serving as secretary of state in the Trump administration.

The former Massachusetts governor made the remark during a speech at his annual political retreat in Park City, Utah. Politico's Alex Isenstadt posted this on Twitter:

Romney reveals in Park City that HILLARY encouraged him to consider Sec State job

— Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) June 9, 2017

Romney was a candidate to lead the Department of State and met with then President-elect Donald Trump about the job during the transition period after last November's election, but the position ultimately went to Rex Tillerson.

Clinton, who lost to Trump in the election, served as secretary of state under former President Barack Obama from 2009-2013.

CBS News' Stefan Becket tweeted that Clinton wasn't the only person who encouraged Romney to take the job if it was offered to him.

Romney in UT: I spoke to former Pres. Bush, Sec Clinton, former secs of state, and in each case, they all said please, please take that job

— Stefan Becket (@becket) June 9, 2017

CNN's Teddy Davis reported that Romney would have served as secretary of state if Trump extended the offer.

Mitt Romney says he spoke with Hillary Clinton about the prospect of becoming Trump's secretary of state: "I would've accepted the job."

— Teddy Davis (@TeddyDavisCNN) June 9, 2017

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has hinted at retiring at the end of his current term in the chamber — his seventh, which dates back to winning the 1976 election — and letting Romney run in his place. Hatch will be 84 at the time of the 2018 election, while Romney will be 71.

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