Who will be President Trump's running mate?
Here are a few things to consider...
Speculation around who President Trump’s vice-presidential pick will be is ramping up as the Republican National Convention inches closer.
The president is expected to announce a running mate before he formally accepts the presidential nomination in July, and tongues have been furiously wagging on the subject of just who will win the 2024 jackpot and get to join the 45th president on a ticket that is poised to potentially make him the 47th president, too.
Such a historic ticket, especially amid such a contentious election cycle, has evoked almost feverish rumors and tall tales, ranging from theories that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would be the VP pick (Trump campaign Senior Advisor Chris LaCivita has already called this “FAKE NEWS”) to Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. (this seems increasingly unlikely as her “I shot a dog” anecdote has sparked bipartisan outrage on the internet)
The truth is, President Trump has not officially released his pick, and until then, only a small handful of people know who he is leaning toward. However, there are a few contenders and frontrunners, and Trump has only added fuel to the speculative fire by posting this photo on Truth Social over the weekend:
This photo was taken at this past weekend’s RNC donor retreat at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where the president spoke for a reported 75 minutes, inviting some of his closest allies on stage. In the photo, a range of speculated VP contenders are seen standing with the 45th president, including:
· Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.,
· Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.,
· Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.,
· Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio,
· Businessman and former 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Gov. Kristi Noem was also reportedly in attendance, as well as Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
It’s safe to say that Gov. Noem’s chances of landing on the VP ticket are likely dead, thanks to one egregious political misstep after another. Following an embarrassing anecdote in her upcoming memoir, her PR damage control strategy has only cannonballed her public image.
Ahead of the release of her upcoming book, “No Going Back,” leaked excerpts from the memoir appeared online, revealing that she included quite a few details about the time she decided to shoot her dog, Cricket. The story has sparked tremendous backlash. Even worse, the book also recounts how she, as a hypothetical president, suggested that she would immediately act to make sure Commander - Joe Biden’s German Shepherd who has a recorded bite history of 24 incidents - would be put down.
Whether you agree with Noem’s decision (20 years ago, no less) to put down her dog whom she says had aggressive tendencies, the South Dakota governor’s head-scratching move to double down on the story has been politically disastrous. To make matters worse, it was revealed that a story in the book that reflected on her meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un never actually happened. She has stated that the story is going to be “adjusted” and admitted that the story “should not have” been placed in the book.
Did Gov. Noem read the book before it went to printing? The circumstances are very odd, especially since she personally narrated the audiobook before the scheduled release. So…it’s not as if Noem didn’t know these excerpts were in the memoir.
It’s safe to say that Noem is most likely no longer in the VP running – a disappointment for many who would have liked to see a woman on Trump’s ticket. Then again, there are other women to choose from: Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Elise Stefanik, anyone?
In a recent audio recording sourced from Axios, President Trump is heard making real-time comments and reactions to some of the top names being floated for vice president. Here are his reactions, which were recorded at a private luncheon, via the outlet:
· Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — "His name is coming up a lot for vice president!"
· Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — "As a candidate he did a good job, but as a surrogate he's unbelievable."
· Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — "He wasn't a supporter of mine at the very beginning... He was saying things like 'the guy's a total disaster'…any ways I got to know him a little bit... As a non politician, he's become one of the great senators."
· Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — "I love your haircut! … And he's a good man too."
· Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) — "[When she ran in 2018] she was like the energizer bunny. She would go from stop to stop to stop."
· North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — "I didn't know this: He was a supporter of my two campaigns. He's a very rich man."
· South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — "Somebody that I love. She's been with me, a supporter of mine and I've been a supporter of hers for a long time. "
· Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) — "A very smart person. She was in upstate New York when I met her…little did we realize she would be such a big factor."
· Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) — "Somebody who's created something very special politically...I like diversity. Diversité as you would say. I like diversité. [Donors] worth millions of dollars...all want a piece of Byron."
· Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Tex.) — "Another friend of mine... makes the best commercials…beautiful family."
· Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) — "A man that knows more about the military. When I want to know about the military, I call him."
It is also entirely possible that President Trump could be considering Vivek Ramaswamy. The young Republican is barely 40 years old and possesses the verbal acumen to spar with virtually any political opponent. Ramaswamy’s young age, energy, and Indian background would also inject a hefty shot of much-needed diversity and youthfulness into Trump’s ticket – an important aspect to consider, especially as Millennial and Gen Z voters are swinging heavily toward Trump in 2024.
I personally think that Gov. Doug Burgum would be the “safest” bet for Trump. Like Trump, Burgum is independently wealthy, and he has been a drama-free governor in North Dakota. He also endorsed Trump early on, shortly after dropping out of the Republican primary.
At the end of the day, President Trump could also have his eye on an “unknown” VP pick – someone we never saw coming. While I think that this is less likely in 2024, Trump will strategically be looking for someone who can carry an important voting bloc. Some have suggested that Sen. Marco Rubio would be a good choice, simply because he will help Trump continue his incredible momentum with Hispanic voters (he is leading with Hispanic voters right now).
Unfortunately, Rubio is an “establishment” guy, so this could also irk hardcore America First voters. Most Trump supporters would like to see him pick someone fiercely loyal and devoted to Trump’s agenda – something they did not get from Pence.
Early rumors swirled that President Trump was readying Arizona news anchor Kari Lake to run alongside him on the vice presidential ticket, but that theory has proven to be untrue. Lake ran for governor in Arizona in 2022 and is now running a tight race against Democrat Ruben Gallego for the U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in their state.
With such a small majority in the House of Representatives, it seems highly unlikely that President Trump will pull a congressman or woman out of their seat to potentially serve as vice president. Trump will need all the Republican allies he can get in Congress if he begins a potential administration in 2025.
For that reason, I think it is less likely that he will choose an effective senator or representative to run with him in 2025 and more likely that he will choose a governor from a solid red state (like Doug Burgum, who is terming out), or a fresh face like Vivek Ramaswamy (while I think this is a long chance, I’d love to see it).
I have said for a while that Gov. Burgum would would be a Trump #2 president if chosen! I like Burgum because of his entrepreneurial spirit!