Donald Trump has revealed that he will announce his Vice President pick during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July—days after his sentencing in a New York courtroom for falsifying documents. In a recent interview, the former President said some Republican lawmakers had greatly impressed him with their thoughts on the current state of America and what direction it must take.
Among those in the running for the job are Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida. The former President recently sent vetting paperwork to those contenders, as well as Dr. Ben Carson, who served as Housing and Urban Development Secretary during the Trump administration.
GOP strategists say Mr. Rubio, in particular, concerns Democrats as they consider him capable of persuading Latinos to switch their allegiance to Donald Trump. Matt Wolking, deputy communications director in Trump’s 2016 campaign, said Senator Rubio is a disciplined communicator who makes few mistakes, and his ability to speak Spanish could provide a welcome boost to Trump.
However, an anonymous GOP source stated that Rubio has doubts about Trump and may not be considered loyal enough for the former President to gamble on.
Some commentators suggest that Mr. Trump may prove unpredictable and opt for an outsider, with New York’s Lee Zeldin and even former Presidential rival Nikki Haley floated as possibilities. Strategists say Haley would benefit Trump by bringing her many supporters over to his side. Zeldin has impressed the former President in flying the Republican flag in New York, whereas Texan Wesley Hunt has emerged as an outspoken Trump defender.
Other possibilities include Maria Elvira Salazar and Greg Abbott. Salazar is credited with turning a blue region red in Florida and could also appeal to Latino voters, while high-profile Abbott is considered a national strongman on the southern border.
