Report: Mitt Romney Will Not Attend 2016 GOP Convention

Boston, MA - Previous GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is reportedly taking a pass on this year's Republican nominating convention, a thumb in the eye of reality TV star, businessman, and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. Not that Trump will feel it.

There's no love lost between the raucous real estate developer and former Massachusetts governor turned 2012 presidential candidate. Romney has wielded what remains of his party influence as a cudgel against Trump, who in turn has roundly mocked Romney, despite supporting his 2012 presidential bid.

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The report on Romney from The Washington Post Thursday highlights the fractious response from the GOP establishment in the wake of Trump's outsider insurgency.

The two former living GOP presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, said Wednesday they do not plan to endorse a candidate in 2016. Romney's fellow former candidate, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, is also planning to pass on the 2016 convention.

Romney stepped into the spotlight as the establishment voice against Trump earlier this year, delivering a lengthy and carefully calculated speech against him. Romney's name was subsequently floated as a possible candidate, should Republicans reach a contested convention.

That talk barely took wing even then, and is now firmly grounded after the Republican National Committee chair anointed Trump "presumptive nominee" Tuesday, following his resounding victory in the Indiana primary.

Romney himself has yet to make a public statement, remaining silent on Twitter since Tuesday night.

He briefly tweeted thanks to Ted Cruz "for making a fight for conservatism, American leadership and freedom."

It's little surprise that Romney's absence doesn't matter to one political player.

In a previous interview, Trump told The Post of Romney's convention role, “I don’t care. He can be there if he wants.”