Changes

*Bowden, John (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423490-rand-paul-defends-trump-against-romney-op-ed-he-wants-to-signal-how-virtuous Rand Paul defends Trump against Romney op-ed: He 'wants to signal how virtuous he is']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

*Bowden, John (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423490-rand-paul-defends-trump-against-romney-op-ed-he-wants-to-signal-how-virtuous Rand Paul defends Trump against Romney op-ed: He 'wants to signal how virtuous he is']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

*Bedard, Paul (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/its-war-rand-paul-hits-big-government-romney-trump-an-actual-conservative It’s war: Rand Paul hits ‘Big Government’ Romney, calls Trump an ‘actual conservative’]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

*Bedard, Paul (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/its-war-rand-paul-hits-big-government-romney-trump-an-actual-conservative It’s war: Rand Paul hits ‘Big Government’ Romney, calls Trump an ‘actual conservative’]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.

*Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/rand-paul-scolds-mitt-romney-anti-trump-screed-big/ Rand Paul scolds Mitt Romney for anti-Trump screed: 'Big mistake']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Even members of the GOP establishment believed the op-ed was "all about self-promotion."<ref>Drucker, David M. (January 3, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/even-the-trump-hostile-gop-establishment-questions-romneys-presidential-tongue-lashing Even the Trump-hostile GOP establishment questions Romney's presidential tongue-lashing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Romney was defended by disgraced FBI Director [[James Comey]],<ref>Axelrod, Tal (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423620-comey-defends-romney-for-calling-out-trump Comey defends Romney for ‘calling out’ Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> and former left-wing Democrat Senator [[Harry Reid]] endorsed Romney for the GOP nomination in 2020.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 11, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/11/harry-reid-endorses-mitt-romney-for-2020-republican-nominee-for-president/ Harry Reid Endorses Mitt Romney for 2020 Republican Nominee for President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref>

*Miller, S.A. (January 2, 2019). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/jan/2/rand-paul-scolds-mitt-romney-anti-trump-screed-big/ Rand Paul scolds Mitt Romney for anti-Trump screed: 'Big mistake']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> Even members of the GOP establishment believed the op-ed was "all about self-promotion."<ref>Drucker, David M. (January 3, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/even-the-trump-hostile-gop-establishment-questions-romneys-presidential-tongue-lashing Even the Trump-hostile GOP establishment questions Romney's presidential tongue-lashing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Romney was defended by disgraced FBI Director [[James Comey]],<ref>Axelrod, Tal (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/423620-comey-defends-romney-for-calling-out-trump Comey defends Romney for ‘calling out’ Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 2, 2019.</ref> and former left-wing Democrat Senator [[Harry Reid]] endorsed Romney for the GOP nomination in 2020.<ref>Spiering, Charlie (January 11, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/01/11/harry-reid-endorses-mitt-romney-for-2020-republican-nominee-for-president/ Harry Reid Endorses Mitt Romney for 2020 Republican Nominee for President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref> The media, which had attacked him in 2012, came to adore him upon attacking Trump.<ref>Concha, Joe (January 2, 2019). [https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/423544-romney-attacks-trump-now-hes-a-media-darling Romney attacks Trump, now he's a media darling]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 21, 2019.</ref>

Upon assuming office, Romney was given seats in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, meaning that he was in a position to oppose and obstruct President Trump's [[America First]] foreign and immigration policies.<ref name="ForeignCmte">Carney, Jordain (January 3, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/423789-romney-gets-seat-on-foreign-relations-committee Romney gets seat on Foreign Relations committee]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Despite his anti-Trump comments, he joined the GOP Senate leadership.<ref>Ferrechio, Susan (January 15, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/despite-trump-slam-romney-named-to-senate-gop-leadership-team Despite Trump slam, Romney named to Senate GOP leadership team]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref>

Upon assuming office, Romney was given seats in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, meaning that he was in a position to oppose and obstruct President Trump's [[America First]] foreign and immigration policies.<ref name="ForeignCmte">Carney, Jordain (January 3, 2019). [https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/423789-romney-gets-seat-on-foreign-relations-committee Romney gets seat on Foreign Relations committee]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 3, 2019.</ref> Despite his anti-Trump comments, he joined the GOP Senate leadership.<ref>Ferrechio, Susan (January 15, 2019). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/despite-trump-slam-romney-named-to-senate-gop-leadership-team Despite Trump slam, Romney named to Senate GOP leadership team]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 15, 2019.</ref>