Romney praises Trump’s first year in office: It’s similar to things ‘I’d have done’

Former GOP presidential nominee and current Senate candidate Mitt Romney praised President Trump’s first year in office on Tuesday, saying it was similar to what the first year of a Romney administration would look like.

In response to a question from a voter in Utah, Romney seemed to indicate that he largely approved of the policies pursued by the Trump administration during Trump’s first year in the White House, calling it “better than expected,” the Washington Examiner reports.

{mosads}“His first year is very similar to things I’d have done my first year,” Romney said. “The things he’s actually done have been better than I expected.”

Romney quickly added, however, that he would continue to oppose the president if he said something the former Massachusetts governor viewed as “racist” or “divisive.”

“If he says something which I believe is racist or divisive and serious, then I’ll point out that I disagree with that,” said Romney, who Trump had feuded with on and off but who also was considered a candidate to be the president’s first secretary of State.

“But I’m an honest enough person that if he does something right — and by the way, he’s done a number of things right — I’ll be fully supportive of those things. I will support the president’s agenda when it’s good for Utah, and good for the country, and so far that’s been the case,” Romney said.

Romney is running in Utah’s GOP primary for the nomination to replace Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), who has endorsed him.

Despite Hatch’s endorsement, Romney came in second place during the final round of voting at Utah’s GOP convention, forcing a runoff.

He will face state Rep. Mike Kennedy (R), who was first elected to Utah’s state house in 2012, in the runoff next month.