Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina has openly expressed his interest in being former President Donald Trump’s running mate as potential VP hopefuls make their way to New York to show their support at Trump’s Manhattan trial. Other candidates in the running include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, New York Representative Elise Stefanik, and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also met with Trump in Miami, sparking speculation about his potential candidacy.
However, some early rumored contenders have been eliminated from the shortlist, including Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Trump has expressed annoyance with Lake and sought to distance himself from her, while Noem faced backlash after admitting to shooting and killing her family’s puppy in her book. Trump has defended Noem, describing the incident as a “bad week.” Additionally, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have been ruled out for the VP position.
Trump has emphasized the importance of selecting a VP who could step into the role of president in case of an emergency. Early suggestions included former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, although Carlson has dismissed the idea of serving as Trump’s running mate. Some of the current candidates, however, have downsides, such as drawing the same base of voters as Trump, representing a solidly blue state, or breaking with Trump’s GOP allies in Congress.
The decision on a running mate for Trump is expected closer to the Republican National Convention in July. The 2024 primary season has been shortened compared to previous years, with both Trump and President Joe Biden securing their party’s nominations in March. Trump has praised several potential contenders, mentioning them in various interviews and public appearances. While the VP pick remains undecided, speculation continues to swirl around the possible candidates and their potential roles in Trump’s campaign.
