Utah Sen. Mitt Romney predicted that Donald Trump would easily win the 2024 Republican nomination if he decides to run despite his two impeachments and scandal-plagued tenure.
“I don’t know if he’ll run in 2024 or not, but if he does, I’m pretty sure he will win the nomination,” Romney told The New York Times.
“A lot can happen between now and 2024,” he said. “I look at the polls, and the polls show that among the names being floated as potential contenders in 2024, if you put President Trump in there among Republicans, he wins in a landslide.”
Romney, who twice voted to convict Trump, said he would not support his potential bid.
“I would not be voting for President Trump again,” he said. “I haven’t voted for him in the past. And I would probably be getting behind somebody who I thought more represented the tiny wing of the Republican Party that I represent.”
Trump kicks off return tour:
Despite facing condemnation from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and some Republicans, the GOP criticism of Trump quickly softened since the deadly Capitol riot he was charged with inciting.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise have both traveled to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump is expected to make his first big speech since leaving office at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend, Politico reported.
Trump is also expected to attend the Republican National Committee’s spring donor retreat in April.
Majority of GOP voters back Trump:
Reports have suggested that Trump may tease a 2024 run but ultimately not follow through. But if he does, polls suggest he could cruise to victory in the GOP primaries once again.
A new Morning Consult/Politico poll found that 53% of Republican voters would back Trump in a 2024 primary, the same number that supported him prior to the January 6 riot.
The next closest candidate is former Vice President Mike Pence at 12%, followed by Donald Trump Jr. at 6%.
But a general election matchup would be a different story. Just 34% of registered voters have a favorable opinion of Trump, according to the poll, compared to 63% who have an unfavorable view of the twice-impeached president.
