Mitt Romney won't endorse Trump in 2020 — but he won't run either

Sen.-elect Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on Wednesday attempted to kill speculation that his Washington Post op-ed criticizing President Donald Trump was a sign that he was planning a primary challenge in 2020, according to CNN.

In his op-ed, Romney wrote that "The president shapes the public character of the nation. Trump's character falls short." Even though Trump endorsed Romney for the Utah Senate seat, Romney said he's not ready to endorse Trump — at least right now.

"He was endorsing me. I wasn't endorsing him," Romney said. "I haven't decided who I'm going to endorse in 2020. I'm going to wait and see what the alternatives are."

Romney also said, however, that he doesn't intend to be one of those alternatives, telling CNN that he will not be running. Romney unsuccessfully ran for president against Barack Obama in 2012. Here's what he had to say about 2020:

"No. You may have heard I ran before. I've had that experience. By the way, I acknowledge the president was successful, and I was not. He did something I couldn't do: He won. I recognize that and appreciate that. But no, I'm not running again. We'll see whether someone else does in a Republican primary or not, but time will tell."

Some Republicans have expressed a desire for someone to challenge Trump in the Republican primary, such as outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), but no one has yet indicated that they'd be willing to do so.

Trump has the full support of the Republican National Committee, made clear by chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Romney's niece, who called Romney's op-ed "disappointing and unproductive."

(H/T The Washington Times)