Mitt Romney throws his hat in race for secretary of state

Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump has said his former bete noire Mitt Romney, who had called him a “con man, phony and fraud” during the election campaign, wants to be his secretary of state, a media report has said.

During a meeting with television journalists and chief executives Monday, Mr Trump, 70, also said that he wanted to have a military man to head the Department of Defence this time, the report said.

“Trump said he believes it is time to have someone from the military as secretary of defence and mentioned that former presidential candidate Mitt Romney ‘really wants’ the secretary of state position,” Politico reported based on the information obtained from those present in the meeting.

One of Mr Trump’s most vocal Republican Party critics, Mr Romney had met the President-elect on Saturday. However, there has been no public confirmation from the presidential transition team.

After his meeting with Mr Trump, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich favoured Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor for the position of Secretary of State.

“I think there are huge advantages to Rudy Giuliani frankly... I think that, if you want someone who is going to go out and be a very tough... Rudy is a better pick and has the right temperament,” Mr Gingrich told reporters.