Nov 26, 2023 - Politics & Policy

Romney: Most Democrats would be an "upgrade" from Trump

Shauneen Miranda

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) answers questions in his office after announcing he will not seek re-election on Sept. 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said Friday he would be happy to vote for a Democrat in the 2024 presidential race, which he thinks would be an "upgrade" from former President Trump.

Why it matters: Romney, one of Trump's most vocal critics within the GOP, has repeatedly sparred with the former president, who remains the 2024 Republican Party front-runner for the White House.

What he's saying: "I'd be happy to support virtually any one of the Republicans, maybe not Vivek [Ramaswamy], but the others that are running would be acceptable to me, and I'd be happy to vote for them," Romney said Friday in an interview with CBS' Norah O'Donnell when asked who in the GOP he supports.

"I'd be happy to vote for a number of the Democrats, too. I mean, it would be an upgrade, in my opinion, from Donald Trump and perhaps also from Joe Biden," Romney said.

The Utah Republican said he thinks independent candidates are likely to elect Trump and that if he were re-elected, it would be "devastating for our country and his character."

Romney also clarified he would not be running for president in 2024 — even as an independent — and would only run "perhaps if Godzilla comes in and removes all the other candidates and so forth."

Zoom out: Romney announced in September he would not be seeking another term in Congress.

Trump took to Truth Social after Romney's announcement, saying it was "fantastic news" for the country, Utah and the GOP, adding that Romney "did not serve with distinction" in the Senate.

Go deeper: Exclusive: Draft Romney/Manchin Committee demands transparency from skeptics

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Romney: Most Democrats would be an "upgrade" from Trump

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