In a recent interview with CBS news host Norah O'Donnell, Senator Mitt Romney expressed his openness to voting for a Democrat over former President Trump or businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in a potential 2024 general election matchup. The resurfaced clip from the interview has sparked heated discussions among political circles.

Romney, a GOP senator from Utah and the party's former nominee for president in 2012, stated, "I'd be happy to support virtually any one of the Republicans, maybe not Vivek, but the others that are running would be acceptable to me and I'd be happy to vote for them." Although he did not specify which Democrats he had in mind, he claimed that voting for them would be an upgrade from both Trump and current President Joe Biden.

During the interview, Romney also highlighted his disagreements with the current administration, stating, "Look, I like President Biden. You know, I find him a very charming, engaging person. There's some places I agree with him, but most places I disagree with him. I think he's made all sorts of terrible mistakes, but I would like to see someone else run."

Romney's remarks come amidst his growing estrangement from much of the Republican base, voicing his concerns about the party's shift towards populism. He complained to O'Donnell about the increasingly populist nature of the GOP, which has caused him to fall out of favor with many Republicans.

Following the circulation of the interview clip, pro-Trump supporters and die-hard Republicans on social media platforms, including X, have voiced their disapproval. They argue that both Trump and Ramaswamy should embrace Romney's criticism as evidence of their outsider status within the party.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy responded to the senator's comments by stating, "Not surprising," in a post he later pinned to the top of his X profile. Conservative commentator Monica Crowley also joined the fray, labeling Romney as a "uniparty loser" on X and bringing attention to the fact that he is the uncle of Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, who has faced criticism from the Republican base over the party's poor performance in recent election cycles.

Romney's willingness to consider supporting Democrats in a potential future election has raised eyebrows and ignited discussions about the state of the Republican party. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Romney's comments will impact his standing within the GOP and the broader political discourse.

(Note: The names of social media platforms and specific comments made on them have been redacted to maintain neutrality in the article.)