Mitt romney praises trump after 'deal with the devil' dinner

Mitt Romney has praised Donald Trump, saying he has "increasing hope" that the president-elect can lead the country to a "better future," following a dinner with Trump

and Republican party chairman Reince Priebus in New York. The 2012 Republican presidential nominee dined with Trump at a French restaurant in Manhattan on Tuesday night. It was their second

meeting since the election and took place as Trump decides whom to appoint as secretary of state. Speaking to reporters after the meal, Romney offered a glowing review of Trump's

transition thus far and his winning campaign. Romney said "it's not easy to win," adding that Trump offered a vision that "connected with the American people in a very

powerful way." His comments are a departure from his stance during the campaign, when Romney was sharply critical of Trump, calling him a "phony" and a fraud whose promises

were worthless. Romney's new-found admiration Trump has not gone unnoticed, with social media users eager to highlight the former governor of Massachusetts' about-turn since the

election. Images from the dinner, which show Trump smiling and Romney in a half-grimace, have been widely shared on Twitter as evidence of just how awkward a situation Romney is in. One

Twitter user said the scene reminded him of a "deal with the Devil." The New York Daily News even ran a caption competition. But many Twitter users didn't need an invitation.

_Associated Press contributed to this report_