President Donald Trump has reportedly begun the official vetting process for potential vice presidential candidates.
Sources close to NBC News revealed that a select group of conservatives has been approached to submit vetting documents.
Former chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, Amy Kramer, wrote in X that among the people the campaign has approached to review the documents include:
- Doug Burgum
- Ben Carson
- Byron Donalds
- Marco Rubio
- Team Scott
- Elise Stefanik
- JD Vance
?
JUST IN:
Trump’s team has sent VP verification documents to the following people…
Doug Burgum
Ben Carson
Byron Donalds
Marco Rubio
Team Scott
Elise Stefanik
JD Vance
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) June 6, 2024
According to NBC, citing one of the sources, Trump’s search for vice president is focused mainly on four main candidates: Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and JD Vance of Ohio. Another source called it a three-way contest between Burgum, Rubio, and Vance.
More from news outlets:
It is unclear whether anyone who has been asked to provide vetting details can rule in or out. Burgum, who has spent more time with Trump in recent weeks, is among those receiving requests, said one of the sources familiar with the inquiry. Burgum’s advisers and other colleagues who would run declined or did not respond to requests for comment this week.
Sources connected to the conversation about the search warned that Trump was working from a fluid shortlist that sometimes included more than half a dozen names. Additionally, subtractions and the emergence of dark horse candidates remain possible.
Others who have been mentioned as his running mate include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York and Byron Donalds of Florida and Ben Carson, who serves as the Trump administration’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Discreet outreach by campaign officials has increased in recent months, even as Trump is involved in a criminal trial, ABC reported.
“Anyone who claims to know who or when President Trump will pick his VP is lying, unless that person’s name is Donald J. Trump,” said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign.
According to the AP, Trump plans to make the VP announcement closer to the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled for July.
President Trump has mentioned Tim Scott twice this year.
In a February 2024 interview with Maria Bartiromo, Trump discussed his selection criteria for vice presidential candidates.
When asked by Bartiromo who he thought would fill the role, Trump spoke highly of Tim Scott, praising him for his recent appearance in defense of Trump’s policies and positions.
“You know, I called Tim Scott, and I told him you’re a better candidate for me than you are,” Trump said.
He further praised Scott, saying, “When I watch Tim, he’s good, he’s good, but he’s really insignificant… I watched him last week standing up for me, fighting for me. And I said: you’re a better person to me instead of yourself. He has become a real tiger. He is extraordinary.
During a town hall on Fox News, he praised Senator Tim Scott, who was in the audience, for his support and effectiveness.
“Yes, of course the first quality should be someone who you think will be a good president because if something happens, you have to have someone who will be a good president. A lot of people talk about the guy over there (Tim Scott). He was better for me than myself. I was watching the campaign, and he didn’t like talking about himself, but, boy, he was talking about Trump. I said, “Tim, you’re better for me than yourself. “He’s a very good man,” Trump said.
Last month, Senator Tim Scott sparked speculation about a potential vice presidential candidate alongside former President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.
During an interview with Eric Bolling, Scott teased that he might be Trump’s outcast. 2.
“Let me tell you. Senator, I would love to moderate a debate with you, but I have a hunch that there is going to be a vice presidential debate. I don’t know, maybe Kamala Harris will debate Senator Tim Scott on this, and I would be honored to moderate,” Bolling said.
“I heard there was a debate in July. If you’re the one moderating, Maybe I’ll talk to you. We’ll see what happens,” said Scott.
“You and I both agree that America is the greatest country because anyone from anywhere can step up to this forum. I thank God that we, the United States, will continue to be the greatest land on this planet, but we need the new president, and Donald Trump,” Scott added.
Bolling then asked again to confirm, “And the new vice president, and you?”
Scott replied, “We’ll see. We’ll see.”
