President-elect Donald Trump sounded off on his $25m payout to students who accused him of fraud on Saturday, as he prepared for a meeting with former foe Mitt Romney, tipped as a possible nominee for secretary of state.



On Friday the US president-elect settled class-action fraud lawsuits relating to his Trump University for $25m, avoiding the public embarrassment of having to testify in court, despite having previously vowed to fight the cases to the end.

On Saturday he sought to explain in a tweet: “I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country.”

He added:

The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016

The suits claimed that Trump university misled students and failed to deliver on its promises in programmes that cost up to $35,000. Trump had denied the allegations and insisted he would contest them in court. In February, he maintained: “Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won’t out of principle!”

New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman, who announced the settlement, called it “a stunning reversal by Donald Trump and a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university”.

The now defunct organization was one of many subjects of criticism highlighted by Romney during the Republican primary campaign. In a speech in March, the former governor of Massachusetts declared: “Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University.”

Romney also accused Trump of legitimising feelings of racism, misogyny and xenophobia, and the men stand starkly opposed over Russia. In 2012 Romney called Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin the “No 1 geopolitical foe” of the United States; Trump has praised Putin, and said he wants to restore relations with the Kremlin.

On Saturday, however, Romney left the meeting at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in a cordial mood. “We had a far reaching conversation with regards to the various theaters in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance,” he told reporters.

“We discussed those areas, and exchanged our views on those topics – a very thorough and in-depth discussion in the time we had. And I appreciate the chance to speak with the president-elect and I look forward to the coming administration and the things that it’s going to be doing.”

Trump said the meeting “went great”. Neither took questions.

Here's what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. (1/2) — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 3, 2016

Before the meeting, Trump had repeatedly mocked Romney, especially on account of his loss to Barack Obama in 2012, as the last Republican nominee. “Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed president but he choked like a dog,” Trump tweeted in June.

Jason Miller, communications director of Trump’s transition team, said that the president-elect’s Saturday meetings included Michelle Rhee, a former chancellor of Washington DC schools; businesswoman Betsy DeVos; Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts; philanthropist Bob Woodson; financier Lew Eisenberg; and Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong, a billionaire surgeon.

On Sunday Trump will hold talks with conservative writer John Gray; Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach; investor Wilbur Ross; New Jersey governor Chris Christie; former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani; and businessmen Robert Johnson; and David McCormick.

On a conference call, Miller said the meetings are not all for possible appointments. “Some folks that are coming in are obviously potential administration hires. Some are coming purely to offer their advice.

Miller also said the meetings were a sign that the president-elect is trying to bridge political divides. “I think this also shows that the president-elect is even bringing folks together who may have been on the opposite side from him politically. But if we’re working to bring the country together and move forward, this shows really where his intent is as the next leader of our country.”

Media reports, citing anonymous sources in the party and transition team, suggested that Romney is a possible contender for secretary of state along with the former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton, Tennessee senator Bob Corker and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who met Trump this week.

Sean Spicer, another spokesperson, said Trump has now spoken with “over 37 foreign leaders who’ve offered their congratulations on winning this historical presidential election”.

Trump has further meetings on Saturday with retired US marine corps general James Mattis and education activists Michelle Rhee and Betsy DeVos.

Trump also used Twitter on Saturday to demand an apology from the cast of Broadway musical Hamilton after actor Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, the third US vice-president, delivered a direct message from the stage to vice-president-elect Mike Pence, who was in the audience and drew both cheers and boos.

“We, sir, are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights,” Dixon said. “We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us.”

Trump characterized that plea as “very rude”, and said that Pence had been “harassed”. He tweeted:

The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016

Trump’s transition team announced on Saturday that he had spoken with Iraqi prime minister Haidar al-Abadi, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg and European council president Donald Tusk.

On Friday, Trump picked Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general and Kansas Representative Mike Pompeo to head the CIA, signalling a rightward lurch in US national security policy. He also named retired lieutenant-general Michael Flynn as his national security adviser.

