Former President and current 2024 Republican frontrunner Donald Trump revealed a short list of six potential running mates for the fall election. And it included the name of at least one of his most heated GOP rivals.
The 45th president addressed a Fox News town hall meeting Monday with host Laura Ingraham.
Trump listed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
The first three are former rivals for the Republican nomination, and DeSantis at times was a contentious opponent.
But Trump played the consummate peacemaker, calling all potential choices “good” and “solid.” He said he is looking for someone possessing common sense “because there’s so many things happening in this country that don’t make sense.”
Despite what many perceive as the importance of the selection, Trump again downplayed its significance.
Here’s Trump’s shortlist for vice president — some potential running mates may surprise you https://t.co/YbVAvkkPl7 pic.twitter.com/4niA2H9OIO
— New York Post (@nypost) February 21, 2024
What is significant, the former president indicated, is the support the potential vice presidential choice has for his candidacy. DeSantis was easily pushed aside after showing strength early and quickly endorsed Trump.
Even Gabbard, a previous Democratic representative, put considerable distance between herself and the party. She is a Trump supporter whose visibility has increased in conservative circles.
Scott is high on many people’s lists, and his abbreviated campaign for the nomination was built more on his allegiance to Trump than any hostility for the frontrunner.
Trump previously explained that the primary quality a person must possess is their ability to step into his shoes and be a good president. “Because if something should happen, you have to have somebody that’s going to be a great president.”
But then he reiterated his belief that the choice has little bearing on the general election. “The one thing that always surprises me is that the VP choice has absolutely no impact. It’s whoever the president is, it just seems.”
That being said, Trump added that “you would like to get somebody that could help you from the voters’ standpoint.”
The frontrunner strongly hinted earlier in the year that he already had a particular person in mind. The identity of that mystery person, however, was not revealed.
