Mitt Romney, Donald Trump Meet at Trump's NJ Golf Course

Donald Trump once said Mitt Romney choked, "choked like a dog" in his 2012 loss to Barack Obama; Romney called then soon-to-be Republican nominee a "con-man" and a "fraud." But now President-elect Trump is looking to draw on Romney's political experience.

Trump and Romney met Saturday afternoon at Trump's New Jersey golf course, along with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, where they reportedly discussed a possible cabinet position.

After the meeting, Romney told The Washington Post, they had a “very thorough and in-depth discussion” on “the various theaters in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance.” Trump said the meeting “went great," according to the Post.

It has since been reported that Romney is under "active consideration" for the position of Secretary of State, along with other possible candidates. Also on the shortlist for the post, according to the New York Times, is former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former U.S. ambassador John Bolton, Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and former senior military commander Stanley McChrystal.

The potential meeting was first reported by CNN last week.

It was later confirmed by NBC, where reporters said the cabinet position under consideration is secretary of state.

Put their mutual animosity aside, and Romney has an attractive resume — a Harvard-educated businessman with executive experience as governor of Massachusetts plus a national profile. In fact, Trump endorsed Romney in 2012, although he later said Romney was "begging" for his endorsement.

"I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees,' he would have dropped to his knees," Trump said in a March campaign appearance. "He let us down. He should have won."

Now, Romney's potential inclusion represents another step in the awkward dance Trump has been doing.His challenge is to assemble a team through which to govern, after winning in the election part by laying waste to the "failed" Republican establishment that Romney, to many Trump supporters' minds, embodies.

While their past interactions have been fraught, Romney and Trump's approach to foreign relations may be even tougher to reconcile. For example, Romney has previously discussed Russia's role as a chief "geopolitical foe," while Trump has repeatedly promised a strong relationship with and relatively hands-off approach to Russia.

Romney previously issued a terse congratulations via Twitter following Trump's victory:

He also called to offer his congratulations directly, the new President-elect said in a tweet:

Read More:

• Donald Trump: 'Don't Reward Mitt Romney'
• Report: Mitt Romney Will Not Attend 2016 GOP Convention
• Mitt Romney On Donald Trump: 'Phony,' 'Fraud,' Con Man'
• If Mitt Romney Could Do It All Over Again...

Photo credit Gage Skidmore, Flickr/Creative Commons