Former President Donald Trump won yet another caucus this week, making his path to becoming the GOP’s 2024 presidential nominee even clearer. Here’s the latest on who might be joining him as a running mate.
Vox published a short list this week based heavily on interviews the former president has had with Fox News. These include a January talk reported on by The Hill.
“I may or may not really [decide] something over the next couple of months. There’s no rush to that. It won’t have any impact at all. The person that I think I like is a very good person, a pretty standard. I think people won’t be that surprised, but I would say there’s probably a 25% chance that would be that person,” said Trump at the time.
Although Vox noted that research indicates vice president picks have limited influence as far as election outcomes are concerned, recent polling from Marquette University indicates an election between Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden will be tight. That means that even a VP has the potential to sway results.
Who could the person be? Vox’s list included South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), U.S. Sen J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley – who is the final contender running against Trump for the nomination.
At least one seemed an unlikely choices by Saturday afternoon.
“Nikki Haley is a flunky for Mitt ‘Pierre Delecto’ Romney who is kryptonite for the Republican Party,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “She was also a Barack Hussein Obama supporter as seen here, and is currently receiving money from his supporters!”
Trump was in Haley’s home state of South Carolina Saturday for a rally ahead of the primary there later this month.
Some experts have speculated that Trump will chose a female VP, and Stefanik seemed eager to make a case for herself this week. She said in an interview with CNN that she would not have certified election results in 2020. Former Vice President Mike Pence did certify results (there is still no evidence of the alleged interference Trump claims cost him the election), though a mob of Trump supporters at the Capitol called on him not to, causing a rift with Trump.
While it seems less likely that Trump will choose a running mate that he has trashed, he has made some comments that indicate that he can change his opinion about people for the better.
“I’ve already started to like [Chris Christie] better,” Trump said, in reference to the former New Jersey governor who dropped out of the primary race, per The Hill. The two men have had a tumultuous relationship in the past, said the outlet.
Vox’s list did not include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was also one of the last candidates left challenging him at the primaries. Other VP contenders Audacy has reported on in recent months include former Fox News host Tucker Carlson – he’s reportedly Melania’s favorite – and Dr.
Ben Carson.