Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was tapped Tuesday for the GOP leadership team — weeks after the 2012 Republican presidential nominee pointedly criticized President Donald Trump’s leadership style.
Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., released the names of GOP lawmakers to serve as deputy whip, and Romney was among them, along with Sens. John Cornyn of Texas, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Shelley Moore Capito, of West Virginia, Rob Portman of Ohio, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Martha McSally of Arizona, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Todd Young of Indiana, the Washington Examiner reported.
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, was named chief deputy whip.
According to the Examiner, Romney’s inclusion generated some pushback because of his stinging New Year’s Day op-ed that blasted Trump for not having “risen to the mantle of the office.”
Trump responded to the biting commentary by tweeting Romney ought to be a “team player.”
“Action is essential if we are to overcome the challenges facing Utahns and our nation,” Romney said in a statement, the Examiner reported. “Being part of this team will allow me to advocate for Utah priorities and to work with my Republican colleagues to find consensus on the pressing issues facing our nation.”
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