Trump hints he has settled on his VP pick: ‘Sort of a pretty good idea’
Former President Donald Trump hinted Thursday that he’s close to deciding who he will pick as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
“I have sort of a pretty good idea,” the presumptive GOP presidential nominee told Fox News reporter Aishah Hasnie after meeting with congressional Republicans on Capitol Hill, noting that his potential choice was “probably” in the room with him at some point during his Thursday meetings.
“Look, we have some really talented people,” he added. “I have a pretty good idea.”
When asked specifically if the Republican governor just across the Potomac River was under consideration, Trump indicated that Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is on his short-list.
“Yes. I haven’t been asked that question, but he would be on that list,” the former president said.
Trump, 77, and Youngkin, 57, met for the first time Wednesday at the former president’s Northern Virginia country club.
The 45th president indicated that he’s likely to stick with his plan to announce his VP choice at next month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
“I think it’s – probably I’ll do it the way it’s usually done,” Trump said. “You announce it at the convention.”
The convention runs from July 15 to 18, and traditionally nominees for vice president are confirmed on the penultimate night of the event.
The vetting process of possible candidates is already underway.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Tim Scott (R-SC) have all exchanged varying degrees of vetting paperwork. As have Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Trump administration Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
During the interview, Trump also revealed that he’s not opposed to endorsing Republican former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan in his Senate race against Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.
Hogan has drawn the ire from Trumpworld in recent weeks after asking Americans to “respect the verdict” in Trump’s Manhattan hush money trial.
The open Maryland Senate seat would be a major pickup for Republicans in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats by one member.
“Yeah, I’d like to see him win,” Trump said of Hogan. “I think he has a good chance to win. I would like to see him win.”
