Donald Trump to meet fierce critic Mitt Romney

Donald Trump is set to meet Mitt Romney, one of his most vocal Republican Party critics, amid speculation the 2012 presidential nominee could be offered a top job in his new cabinet.

The President-elect and the former Governor of Massachusetts aimed stinging rebukes at each other during the 2016 election campaign, with Mr Romney lambasting the billionaire as a "conman" and "fraud".

But the two look set to bury the hatchet when they meet in Bedminster, New Jersey, as Mr Trump continues to shape his administration team.

Mr Romney is now considered a long-shot to become the tycoon's Secretary of State, despite Mr Trump labelling him as a "loser" and a "choke artist" during his divisive campaign.

The 69-year-old, who lost out to Barack Obama in the 2012 election, would bring a more orthodox Republican view to foreign policy.

He described Russia as the top geopolitical threat in 2012 - a sharp contrast to Mr Trump, who has exchanged compliments with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Romney is said to be facing competition from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, Tennessee Senator Bob Corker and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for the role of Secretary of State.

:: What you need to know about Donald Trump's new picks

Mr Trump made a number of controversial appointments to his team this week.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions - who has angered many with his hardline policies on immigration and position on gay rights - was appointed as attorney general, and Kansas congressman Mike Pompeo was picked to head the CIA.

Both moves signal a shift to the right in US security policy.

Mr Trump also named retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as his national security adviser on Friday.

Lt Gen Flynn is a former military intelligence chief who has accused the Obama administration of being too soft on terrorism.

The appointments were revealed in a statement from Mr Trump, who has made no public appearances this week.

On Saturday, he will also meet retired General James Mattis who is thought to be in the running to lead the Pentagon.

Most of Mr Trump's nominees are expected to be confirmed easily because the Republican Party has a majority in the Senate.

But there could be a backlash against some of the more controversial choices, particularly Mr Sessions who has faced allegations he used racist language during a Senate confirmation hearing in 1986.

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