Many of Donald Trump’s potential vice presidential candidates made appearances on Sunday shows after spending time with him at his Florida home over the weekend, where they repeated Trump’s doubts about election results and criticized President Joe Biden for his handling of campus protests. South Carolina Gov. Kristi Noem faced backlash for an anecdote about killing animals on her farm, which led to her being removed from the shortlist of potential candidates. High-profile Republicans such as House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio were all seen making appearances on TV shows as speculation continues about who Trump will choose as his running mate.
Stefanik used her appearance on Fox News to draw connections between campus unrest and the Democratic Party, while Rubio criticized Biden for being “weak” and “feeble” and suggested that international students should have their visas revoked for defacing statues. Scott accused Biden of taking too long to condemn antisemitism and pandering to his political base. Biden had made minimal comments about the unrest until last Thursday when he addressed the issue at the White House, condemning antisemitism and showing some understanding for the Palestinians.
As Trump continues to focus on his false claims about election integrity, potential deputies such as Scott refused to confirm whether they would accept the results of the 2024 election, stating that Trump will ultimately be the 47th president. Rubio was asked about changing his residency to serve as vice president, avoiding the question to pivot to Trump’s legal battles. Noem, who faced criticism for an anecdote in her book about killing animals on her farm, denied meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, acknowledging the error and making changes to her book.
The speculation about who Trump will choose as his vice presidential candidate continued, with Rubio emphasizing that the decision ultimately lies with Trump. Noem defended herself on CBS’ “Face the Nation” regarding the animal killing anecdote in her book and an error claiming to have met Kim Jong Un. Noem stated that the story had been used against her by political opponents and that she had made changes to the book upon realizing the mistake. The ongoing discussions about potential vice presidential candidates and their positions on various issues showed the divisions within the Republican Party and their focus on supporting Trump’s narrative.
