The 2012 Republican presidential candidate had been a fierce and outspoken critic of his successor, describing him as a “phony” and a “fraud”, and urging supporters to vote for anyone else but him while the party was choosing its nominee.Other names rumoured for the Secretary of State role include former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; Bob Corker, chairman of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; and former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton.Sources say Mr Trump and Mr Romney are set to have a “healing meeting” on Sunday, during which they will speak about the position.
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Donald Trump denies transition disarray
The pair began building bridges after the billionaire businessman’s election victory, when Mr Romney called to pass on his congratulations.Mr Trumps has also offered retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn a job as White House national security adviser.Mr Flynn advised Mr Trump during the election campaign on national security issues and was often an introductory speaker at rallies.Mr Trump has dismissed reports his transition is in chaos – saying his team is doing “a fantastic job” and the cabinet selection process “is going so smoothly”.:: Who will Donald Trump choose to help make America great again?US media reports had suggested there is infighting in the President-elect’s team – with one insider reportedly describing it as a “knife fight”.”The disagreements highlight the dilemma faced by Trump, who is now torn between a campaign promise to shake up Washington and the need to build a national security team with policy experience,” CNN reported.But Mr Trump’s campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said: “It’s false to say it’s not going well.”Everything up there is very smooth. I know the President-elect himself is very happy with how the transition is going.”
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Diplomat John Bolton tipped to be Trump's Secretary of State.
In an Apprentice-style tweet, Mr Trump himself asserted: “Very organised process taking place as I decide on Cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are!”However, his appointments are causing deep concern on both the left and right of American politics.Most controversial is the appointment of Steve Bannon, formerly chairman of controversial right-wing propaganda and news website Breitbart, who will be his chief strategist,
Balancing his appointment, Reince Priebus will become White House Chief of Staff.Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is tipped for Secretary of State.Texas Senator Ted Cruz – Mr Trump’s Republican campaign rival – has been spotted at his office at Trump Tower in Manhattan, and is reportedly being considered to serve as the US Attorney General.
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Ted Cruz, who refused to endorse Donald Trump, has also been in talks with him
He would not be drawn on the reports, but said he was “eager to work with the new President in whatever capacity I can have the greatest impact defending the principles that I was elected to defend”.As with Mr Romney, relations between the pair have been strained, with Mr Trump referring to Mr Cruz as “lyin’ Ted” during the fight for the Republican presidential nomination.But it appears any previous differences have been put aside, with Mr Cruz telling reporters that “the heart of what we talked about” were solutions for the problems facing the country.:: Has baton of leadership passed from US to Germany?Mr Trump is said to have sought advice from Henry Kissinger, one of the more illustrious – if controversial – officials from the past.The 93-year-old, who served as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser under presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, was the architect of the US outreach to China and helped negotiate the Paris Peace Accords that ended the Vietnam War.He remains a respected policy expert and consultant, but his reputation has been clouded by criticism of his role in a CIA-backed coup in Chile and America’s illegal Vietnam-era bombing of Cambodia.:: Clinton wanted to ‘curl up’ after election loss
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Mr Trump is said to have taken advice from Henry Kissinger
Mr Trump, who has no foreign policy experience – or even political experience – of his own, said he was delighted to welcome him to Trump Tower.”I have tremendous respect for Dr Kissinger and appreciate him sharing his thoughts with me,” Mr Trump said after the pair met in the New York skyscraper, adding that they had discussed China, Russia, Iran, Europe and broader world affairs.While Dr Kissinger has been happy to share his wisdom with Mr Trump, he is known to have been closer to Hillary Clinton and has admitted he expected her to win the White House race.