A surprising shift in perspective emerges as longtime Trump critic Senator Mitt Romney acknowledges the former president's impact on reshaping the Republican Party.
According to Daily Caller, the Utah Senator credited Donald Trump during a CNN appearance for successfully transforming the GOP into a party that appeals to working-class voters, marking a significant departure from his previous criticisms.
During his appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" with Jake Tapper, Romney addressed the future of the Republican Party and its connection to the MAGA movement.
He acknowledged that the GOP has undergone a fundamental transformation under Trump's leadership, suggesting that the party's base has shifted dramatically from its traditional demographic.
Romney offered a clear assessment of MAGA's role in the party's direction. He predicted that JD Vance, the Vice President-elect, would likely secure the Republican nomination in 2028, citing Vance's intelligence and speaking abilities. This prediction came despite Romney's previous criticism of Vance, though he declined to revisit those past comments during the interview.
The Utah Senator emphasized the Democratic Party's challenges in maintaining its traditional base. He pointed to specific policy positions that he believes have alienated middle-class voters from the Democratic Party. The exodus of union workers to the Republican Party particularly stood out in Romney's analysis.
Romney stated:
The Republican Party has become the party of the working class, middle class voter. You've got to give Donald Trump credit for having done that, taken that away from the Democrats. Democrats pushed him out. All right? The Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren faction of the Democrat Party with some of this, defund the police and transgenders — excuse me, biological males in women's sports. These things had a lot of people in the middle class just flee the Democratic Party.
Romney's evolving stance reflects a broader trend among former Trump critics. Despite voting to convict Trump during his Senate impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol attack, Romney has joined other prominent figures in acknowledging Trump's electoral success and influence.
The shift extends beyond political figures to media personalities. MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who had previously compared Trump to Adolf Hitler, recently visited Mar-a-Lago to restart communications with the President-elect. This represents a significant change in their approach following Trump's victory in both the Electoral College and the popular vote.
These developments indicate a growing acceptance of Trump's leadership within the Republican Party, even among those who previously opposed him. The trend suggests a potential consolidation of party support behind Trump's vision for the GOP's future.
Senator Mitt Romney, once a vocal critic of Donald Trump, has acknowledged the former president's success in transforming the Republican Party into a working-class coalition.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Romney credited Trump with fundamentally changing the GOP's voter base while predicting the party's continued alignment with the MAGA movement under future leaders like Vice President-elect JD Vance.
This recognition comes as part of a broader trend of former Trump critics, including media personalities, finding ways to work with the President-elect following his electoral victory. The development signals a significant shift in Republican Party dynamics and suggests a consolidation of power around Trump's vision for the party's future.
