Former President Donald Trump said in a media interview this week that he was considering two names among others as his potential vice presidential pick. The comments come amid months of speculation regarding who Trump may name as his number two as he grows closer to clinching the Republican nomination against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R).
Trump’s comments came during an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. He said that he would not formally introduce his pick “for a little while.”
When asked about the criteria he was considering in a vice presidential pick, Trump said that he was seeking someone “who is going to be a good president.” That would be his most important factor, he said.
When directly asked who would be his running mate, Trump said that he had “a lot of good people. I have a lot of good ideas” and talked “to everybody.”
The former president specifically mentioned Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who briefly ran for the Republican nomination. Trump said that he talked to him “and people like Tim Scott, and I said you’re a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself.”
He also praised South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who once said that she would never run against him.
Trump brings up Tim Scott and Kristi Noem when asked about his pick for Vice President
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 4, 2024
Noem could be a positive fit for the president’s campaigning style. Noem endorsed Trump prior to the Iowa caucus and enthusiastically campaigned for him.
Trump’s recent comments came just weeks after speculation regarding who may be the vice presidential pick.
The former president previously said that he knew who he would choose as his running mate. This reportedly does not include Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Reporting indicates that Trump is unlikely to select former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as his pick.
Among the potential candidates were Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who previously served in the Trump White House.
Trump is also reportedly considering Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has emerged as one of the former president’s strongest defenders. She filed an ethics complaint against the judge in one of the civil cases against Trump.
