TRUMP CONFIRMS NAMES OF CONTENDERS ON HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL SHORTLIST
Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he is considering six individuals for his vice presidential shortlist for the 2024 election. These contenders include three former GOP primary rivals: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen.
Tim Scott. Additionally, the list features Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become a registered Independent. Trump praised all of them, stating that they are “good” and “solid” choices.
During an exclusive town hall event with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump responded to a question from host Laura Ingraham on whether he included on his ticket the rumored names of businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, S.C. Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Byron Donalds, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who left the Democrat Party in 2022 to become a registered Independent, and S.D. Kristi Noem.
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“Are they all on your shortlist?” Ingraham asked the president.
“They are,” said Trump. “Honestly, all of those people are good. They’re all good. They’re all solid.”
Trump then commended Scott, who was sitting in the audience, calling him a “great advocate.”
“A lot of people are talking about that gentleman right over there,” Trump said while pointing to Scott. “And he’s been so great. He’s been such a great advocate.”
“I have to say—this in a very positive way—Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself,” the 45th president added. “I watched his campaign, and he doesn’t like talking about himself, but boy, does he talk about Trump.”
Scott suspended his presidential campaign in November, and endorsed the 45th president shortly thereafter. Since then, he has frequently stumped on the campaign trail for Trump—particularly in the senator’s home state of South Carolina.
Regarding the others named in the shortlist, Gov. Noem was an early supporter of Trump’s 2024 bid, and was one of the first governors to endorse his campaign. Rep. Donalds also endorsed Trump’s campaign back in April, and has been one of his most staunch supporters in the U.S. House.
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Gabbard, who previously ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, left her party and has frequently criticized many of her former colleagues their far-left policies. If Trump were to select Gabbard, their victory would be the first time a president and vice president from opposite parties won the election since 1864.
Ramaswamy and DeSantis also endorsed the president’s campaign shortly after suspending their bid for the Republican nomination, calling on supporters to vote for Trump instead of former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley.
Trump’s town hall took place in Greenville, South Carolina, a state which will hold its primary on Saturday, Feb. 24.
Although South Carolina is her home state, Haley is seemingly more likely to lose to President Trump in a landslide, with recent polling showing the president trouncing her by double-digits.
According to the latest poll from Mainstreet Research, 65 percent of GOP voters expressed their intent to vote for Trump, while 23 percent said they would vote for Haley.
The information is collected from www.rsbnetwork.com