Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), who is retiring, threw his support behind Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) for the vice presidency on Sunday. He argued that the exaggerated media response to her State of the Union rebuttal, which was heavily scrutinized and delivered in an unusual manner, reveals who liberals see as their most feared VP nominee. The former 2012 Republican presidential candidate defended Britt on X platform amid a barrage of criticism labeling her rebuttal as “cringe-worthy.”
In a good way, the delivery was over-the-top, out of character—Biden’s, of course. Katie Britt’s too. The media overreaction to hers not his tells us who liberals most fear as VP nominee.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 10, 2024
“In a good way, the delivery was over-the-top, out of character — Biden’s, of course. Katie Britt’s too,” Romney posted on X before claiming Britt sparks fear in the left as a viable vice-presidential choice. “The media’s overreaction to hers, not his, tells us who liberals most fear as VP nominee.”
In her coverage of the rebuttal, Hannah Bleau Knudsen of Breitbart News observed that although Britt touched on the appropriate subjects on paper, her speaking manner and overall presentation fell short of making an impact. This led to widespread criticism, with many mocking her breathy delivery, frequent pauses, subdued tones, and abrupt emotional shifts from near tears to cheerful expressions.
Sen. @KatieBrittforAL: “Right now, our Commander in Chief is not in command. The free world deserves better than a dithering and diminished leader.” pic.twitter.com/os5i606TeE
— GOP (@GOP) March 8, 2024
Britt’s reaction has faced scrutiny from across the political spectrum, gaining such traction that NBC’s Saturday Night Live parodied it in its cold open, featuring actress Scarlett Johansson as the senator.
Following the airing of her rebuttal on Thursday night, Turning Point USA founder and Trump ally Charlie Kirk remarked that her speech was “not what we need.”
I'm sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need. Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like she's hosting a cooking show whispering about how Democrats "dont get it."
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 8, 2024
“I’m sure Katie Britt is a sweet mom and person, but this speech is not what we need,” Kirk wrote in a post on X. “Joe Biden just declared war on the American right and Katie Britt is talking like she’s hosting a cooking show whispering about how Democrats ‘dont get it.’”
Following former President Donald Trump’s criticism of former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Super Tuesday, Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, informed NBC News that the roster of potential vice-presidential candidates “is expanding and becoming more extensive.”
“I think we’re quite a ways away, though, from seeing anything,” Miller said without naming names.
Nevertheless, Britt’s endorsement of Trump came late, as she only voiced her support in December after facing months of pressure. In contrast, her colleague Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) endorsed Trump in November 2022, while the entire Alabama Congressional delegation had backed him in August.
Given Romney’s endorsement, despite being a prominent political adversary of Trump, coupled with Britt’s delayed endorsement and awkward rebuttal, it’s probable that her prospects in the vice presidential race are diminished, if she is even being considered for the position.
