WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Donald Trump on Monday (Feb 19) endorsed former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's run for a US Senate seat in Utah despite Romney often being critical of Trump.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Romney excoriated Trump as a "fraud" who was "playing the American public for suckers". Trump responded that Romney had "choked like a dog" in his 2012 campaign against President Barack Obama.

Trump said on Twitter that Romney "will make a great Senator and worthy successor to @OrrinHatch, and has my full support and endorsement!"

Romney announced on Friday he would run to replace retiring Senator Orrin Hatch.