Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus sent a message to Trump supporters that they should be “encouraged” by Donald Trump’s flirtation with former critic Mitt Romney to be secretary of state.
“I think the folks out there across the country should be encouraged by a president who wants to build trust and the team of rivals concept is a good thing for America,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
His comments come after Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said Trump’s grassroots supporters would be infuriated with a Romney pick, as the 2012 GOP nominee called Trump a “phony” and a “fraud” during the campaign.
Priebus said that things are “moving very quickly” on the selection of secretary of state.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is among those on Trump’s team who has criticized Romney vehemently, though he said on “Face the Nation” that he would accept Trump’s pick.
“As tough as I have been in public, I’ve got no blowback from anybody, including Reince,” he said.
Romney is among the short list of people Trump is considering, alongside stalwart Trump ally Rudy Guiliani.
Priebus also said that it was “possible” that about 3 million people illegally voted in the 2016 election, despite no hard evidence to prove that. Trump floated the idea of millions of people illegally voting, as Democratic Nominee Hillary Clinton’s lead in the popular vote surpassed 2 million.
