Trump short list for VP candidates could include surprising options: ‘Not a person in politics that doesn’t want it’ – Washington Examiner

Former President Donald Trump said he is narrowing down his options for vice president, highlighting the high interest among politicians in serving as his second-in-command.

Trump told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly on Wednesday evening that “really great people” want the position and have expressed they “would love to be vice president.”

“Who wouldn’t? If you’re a politician, who wouldn’t want it?” Trump said. “But you know, I get a kick out of watching the fake news media say, ‘Nobody wants to work with him. Nobody wants to be vice president. Nobody wants to be secretary of state.’ Everybody wants to be in these positions.”

“There’s not a person in politics that doesn’t want it, and that includes Democrats,” he said. “If I wanted, I’d have a Democrat, I’d have a liberal, I’d have anybody I want.”

Trump said he’s looking at “a couple of people that you may know very well” and had to rule out a few who he “didn’t think behaved properly.”

The former president secured enough delegates to grab the Republican presidential nomination after emerging victorious in Hawaii’s GOP presidential caucuses this week, paving the way for a rematch against President Joe Biden. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley suspended her White House bid last week after losing every state except one in Super Tuesday’s primary contests. 

All eyes are on who Trump will pick as his running mate, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) have been floated as top contenders. Other vice presidential picks include Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), who dropped out of the presidential race in January, and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX). 

Several people have expressed their interest to join Trump’s ticket if invited. Noem told Newsmax in September that she “would in a heartbeat” if Trump approached her to be his running mate in 2024. When Scott was asked by the Wall Street Journal last month if he wanted to be vice president, the South Carolina senator said he wants “to do what’s really best for the country.” He also told Newsmax this week that he’s interested in debating Vice President Kamala Harris.

While Noem and Scott are topping projected lists, their strong stances on abortion restrictions might box them out of contention.

Trump is reportedly trying to avoid a ticket partner who is staunchly against abortion rights, as he fears the issue is a losing one for Republicans.

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Scott took the hardest line among GOP presidential contenders when he was on the debate stage as a candidate, endorsing a federal 15-week limit on abortion.

In Noem’s South Dakota, there is a near-total ban on abortion, with exceptions for the life of the mother, but not for pregnancies as a result of rape or incest.

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