According to the New York Times, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) expects former President Trump to be the Republican nominee in 2024, should he choose to run again for the office of President. Romney stated that his interpretation of various polls leads him to believe this, though he said, “a lot can happen between now and 2024.”

Romney is often criticized by more conservative members of the party as being a ‘RINO’ – Republican In Name Only. Romney was one of seven who voted former President Trump guilty at his most recent impeachment trial. In fact, Romney was the only member of the GOP who voted guilty at both of Trump’s impeachment trials.

Romney’s prediction suggests that Trump will likely maintain a public leadership position in the Republican party. Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee, is decidedly anti-Trump and seemingly out of touch the Republican party of 2020. Romney stated:

I would not be voting for President Trump again. I haven’t voted for him in the past. And I would probably be getting behind somebody who I thought more represented the tiny wing of the Republican Party that I represent.

The “tiny wing” Romney claims to represent is a far-cry away from the leadership position he held as the 2012 nominee. The transition from Romney to Trump demonstrated an undeniable shift in the Republican party. Trump may be close to officially announcing his leadership over the GOP at the CPAC 2021 conference which begins February 25th.