CNN: Romney's Refusal to Apologize Cost Him Secretary of State Job

Mitt Romney refused to apologize for his past remarks about President-elect Donald Trump, a sticking point that may have led to his being denied the secretary of state job.

CNN cites sources who said Romney's decision to look forward, but not backward, played a large role in the process that ended with Trump choosing Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for the post.

The network reports that Trump's close aides Kellyanne Conway, Stephen Bannon, and others didn't think Romney's verbal attacks on Trump earlier this year were forgivable. Vice President-elect Mike Pence and Reince Priebus, Trump's pick for White House chief of staff, wanted Romney to publicly say he was sorry for his comments.

Romney, reports CNN, refused to do so.

"It was clearly a sticking point and bothered Trump," a source told the network.

CNN also reports that Romney met with Pence and Trump soon after the election and said the only job he wanted in Trump's administration was the secretary of state position. Romney and Trump reportedly held two face-to-face meetings and spoke on the phone several times about the job.

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