The Republican Senator Mitt Romney plans to withdraw from politics next year. In his party, he has been one of the sharpest critics of former President Trump, often finding himself in a lone position.
As soon as the surprising news of Mitt Romney's withdrawal spread, hordes of reporters besieged the Senator's office in the Capitol. The obvious question was, "What prompted this decision?"
The tall man with the distinctive gray temples replied that it was a decision "primarily due to age."
He explained, "By the end of my second term, I would be in my mid-80s." Romney believed it was time for his generation to step aside and make room for younger leaders. The implication was clear: the current leading contenders for a presidential nomination, U.S. President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are 80 and 77 years old, respectively.
When Romney ran for the Senate in 2018, Trump claimed that he had begged for his endorsement, even going so far as to get on his knees.
"I've made so much more money than Mitt. One of my stores is worth more than Mitt," Trump railed.
Romney consistently brushed off these attacks. However, he was disappointed that old political allies did not rally to his side more strongly.
Romney's former 2012 campaign manager, Stuart Stevens, revealed on CNN that Romney was surprised that more party members didn't stand by him.
Romney, who will retain his Senate seat until the next election, is likely to stay true to his position. When asked by a reporter if he would support Trump if he became the Republican candidate, Romney's response was, "Absolutely not."
