Trump, at one point, invited many of the contenders on stage like contestants in one of his old beauty pageants.
The next day several of them, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov.
Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, fanned out across Sunday news shows to sing his praises.
Rubio, one potential top contender, could help Trump win over Hispanic voters as well as establishment donors still leery of a second Trump term.
But Rubio has a problem: He lives in Florida, the same state as Trump, which would violate the Constitution’s 12th Amendment.
Those issues could help a candidate like Burgum, a billionaire who has traveled extensively with Trump since he dropped his own presidential bid.
South Dakota Gov.
“Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump,” senior campaign advisor Brian Hughes said in an emailed statement.
NEW YORK (AP) — While former President Donald Trump is confined to the courtroom, hearing graphic details of an extramarital affair he disputes, his vice presidential tryouts are taking place in the background.
At a private fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago club over the weekend, which also served as an audition for a long list of prospective running mates, the dynamic was on full display in Florida. Several of the competitors were once invited by Trump to compete on stage, much like in one of his former beauty pageants. Several of them, including South Carolina Sen., were out the following day. Governor Tim Scott of North Dakota. Senator Doug Burgum of Florida. Marco Rubio and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was praising him, spread throughout Sunday news shows.
We had fifteen people this past weekend. dot. Trump said to Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin on Tuesday, “They’re all out there campaigning.”. Because each of them believes they could be chosen, which I suppose may be the case, it might actually be more effective this way. “.
The remarks show why Trump is taking his time selecting his prospective deputy and publicly narrowing down his options. As reporters dissect his decisions and potential contenders vie for his favor in a contest akin to “Apprentice,” the presumed GOP nominee is content to bask in the spotlight for the time being.
As he did when he selected then-Indiana Gov., Trump has stated that he plans to make an announcement before the Republican National Convention in July. Mike Pence, the year 2016.
He has the final say in the matter. Trump’s 2016 list included three finalists, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. “He will intuitively decide who should be his vice president, and he’ll listen to everybody up until that moment and then he’ll decide,” Gingrich said.
According to him, candidates should respond “yes” when Trump contacts them to invite them to speak at a rally. But their influence is limited.
Gingrich stated, “I never thought it worked that well, but some of them try to audition.”. “.
Currently, a number of individuals acquainted with his thought process claim that Trump is considering a lengthy list of potential candidates, which includes senators, governors, and members of Congress who have faced his opposition in the past. The individuals discussed the fundraiser and private talks while maintaining their anonymity. Trump is keeping an eye on who can successfully raise money, defend him in court, and perform at political gatherings while he considers his options. He’s particularly curious about their television persona.
Many of the candidates who are being seriously considered have negative things said about them, which appears to have contributed to the decision being more difficult.
Hispanic voters and establishment donors who are still hesitant to support Trump for a second term may be won over by Rubio, a possible front-runner. Rubio’s issue, though, is that he lives in Florida, the same state as Trump, which would be against the 12th Amendment of the Constitution.
Trump has brought up the subject himself, most notably at the fundraising luncheon on Saturday. According to multiple attendees, Trump stated that he liked Rubio but brought up the problem of his residency.
OH Sen. Another strong candidate is JD Vance, a close friend of President Trump’s eldest son. In an interview with CNN last week, he won over supporters of Trump.
However, Trump doesn’t stop pointing out that Vance wasn’t always a supporter; at the Saturday event, he brought up this point once more before calling Vance a fantastic senator.
Scott has shortcomings as well; Trump has frequently joked that he is a far better surrogate than a candidate. Scott’s selection would bring fresh attention to something Trump has attempted to eradicate as a campaign issue by arguing it should be left to the states. Scott pushed Trump to support a 15-week national abortion ban during the GOP primary.
A candidate like Burgum, a billionaire who has accompanied Trump on lengthy trips since abandoning his own presidential bid, might benefit from those issues.
Some have appeared to push the boundaries of what constitutes disqualification.
South Dakota Governor. Since it was revealed that Kristi Noem wrote a book that was just published this week about shooting a family dog to death, the author has been under fire from the media. Noem has also been exposed for her mistakes, such as her fabrication that she once met Kim Jong Un, the dictator of North Korea. She has persisted in appearing in interviews to justify her behavior, extending the plot over several days.
Though he conceded that “she had a rough couple of days, I will say that,” Trump continued to praise Noem in his Tuesday interview, even though she had previously been regarded as a front-runner. “.
Before the news of her dog killing became public, Noem’s reputation had already been damaged by criticism of her decisions, such as her choice to star in an infomercial-style video endorsing a group of Texas cosmetic dentists.
Arkansas Gov. Additionally, Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been featured in unfavorable press. Her office may have broken the law when it bought a $19,000 lectern, according to a recent audit – a scandal that some have dubbed “lecterngate.”.
With characteristic Trumpian defiance, Sanders—who worked as the president’s press secretary at the White House—replied by uploading a 20-second video to X that showed the lectern with its wood-paneled panels and blue color scheme. The song “Public Service Announcement” by Jay-Z began to play in the background as the words “come and take it” flashed on the screen.
A review of Sanders’s security and travel records is still ongoing, so there may be more inquiries. Her intransigent reaction, however, served to further solidify her reputation as a Trump brand acolyte.
According to Kevin Madden, a senior adviser to former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, “what used to be a scandal is no longer a scandal and what used to be seen as a liability is not really as much of a liability in the Trump era.”. It is possible for Trump to obstruct the sun. “.
Provocative remarks that in previous election cycles might have been detrimental to candidates, like Sen. Tom Cotton, who advised the public to “take matters into your own hands” in the event that they come across pro-Palestinian demonstrators obstructing traffic.
“Unless the individual is called Donald J., anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will select his vice president is lying. Trump,” senior campaign advisor Brian Hughes said via email.
The “most important thing” in a candidate, according to Trump, is whether or not they would make a good president if called upon. He also believes that the choice made won’t likely change the course of the election.
VPs have never truly aided in the electoral process, he declared on Tuesday. “It’s a big story that lasts for one day, and then it’s back to work.”. They genuinely want to know who the best is. The ticket has a 1.
. “.
