Trump Says He's Decided on His Running Mate

0:00

/1861

1×

Facts

• During a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pa., former US Pres. Donald Trump told NBC News that he has decided who his pick for vice president (VP) will be. He added that 'nobody knows' who he has chosen.¹
• Trump told reporters he had not yet informed his running mate, but he said his choice would likely be present at the first presidential debate on Thursday. 'They'll be there,' he said, adding, 'I think we have a lot of people coming.'²
• While he said his vice presidential candidate may be present at the debate in Atlanta, Trump later told Fox News that the general public will likely not know who it is until he announces it at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.³
• In April, the ex-president disclosed to Time magazine that many people had expressed a desire to be his VP. He claimed he was receiving numerous calls from people around the country asking to be picked.²
• Trump's shortlist reportedly includes his former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.⁴
• Trump is holding informal policy sessions with top advisors, including prospective VP candidates, ahead of Thursday's debate. Trump's senior advisor, Brian Hughes, said the campaign is looking for a candidate who is 'is a strong leader who will make a great President for eight years after his next four year term concludes.'⁵

Sources: ¹Huffington Post, ²Time, ³FOX News, ⁴Breitbart and ⁵NBC.

Narratives

• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by FOX News. There's a great deal of intrigue surrounding the upcoming presidential debate thanks to former President Trump. In addition to rumored VP candidates like Tim Scott and JD Vance, the media has also been buzzing with potential options who have more bipartisan cross-over appeal and could lean into the niche Nikki Haley carved during the primary. Trump has made a bold decision in his mind, and American voters can look forward to exciting news with the debate and GOP convention just around the corner.
• Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Bloomberg. After Mike Pence chose loyalty to the Constitution over Trump's authoritarianism in 2020, Donald Trump will be looking for someone who won't fight his autocratic tendencies. Trump's vice presidential candidate will likely be someone who dangerously downplayed the Jan. 6 insurrection and has America First impulses. It's looking likely that whoever the former president picks will be unwelcome news for the American public.