Trump backs Romney’s Senate bid

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney’s U.S. Senate bid in Utah Monday, extending an olive branch to one of his harshest Republican critics. “He will make a great Senator and worthy successor to [Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah] and has my full support and endorsement!” Trump tweeted Monday night. Romney quickly thanked Trump and said he hoped to earn the endorsement from the people of Utah, as well. The former Republican presidential nominee and Massachusetts governor previously disavowed Trump. During a speech in March 2016, Romney called Trump a con man whose promises were worthless. Trump said that in his 2012 campaign for president, Romney choked “no different than a golfer that misses a putt on the 18th hole.” Despite the bad blood during the campaign, Trump considered making Romney his secretary of state but ultimately offered the job to ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history, announced last month he would retire after this year, and Romney said Friday he would run to replace him. Trump and Hatch grew close last year as Republicans worked to overhaul the tax code, and the president encouraged the 83-year-old to run again.