Conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson recently downplayed speculation surrounding his potential selection as Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race, deeming the idea “just so unimaginable.” During an interview with former Fox News colleague Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM, Carlson responded to queries about his willingness to serve, stating, “I haven’t led a life that prepares a person for politics.”
He went on to elaborate, emphasizing that his reluctance does not stem from any hidden controversies, stating, “I don’t think I have any horrible skeletons or anything. It’s just that that’s not how my brain works. I’ve never engaged in anything like that, and I can’t envision spending time with politicians.”
Newsweek sought comments from the Trump campaign via email on Tuesday in response to Carlson’s statements.
These remarks from Carlson follow comments made by the former president, who, leading the Republican primary field, expressed on the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show in November that he would consider Carlson for the vice presidential position. Trump conveyed his admiration, stating, “I like Tucker a lot. I guess I would. I think I’d say I would because he’s got great common sense.”
Axios reported last week that if Trump secures the GOP nomination and wins the presidential election in the coming year, he plans to populate his cabinet with loyalists willing to push boundaries, with prominent figures from the conservative movement being considered for key roles. Notably, Trump’s initial cabinet and White House staff during his first term included conventional Republicans, leading to public disagreements.
The ongoing Republican presidential primary has witnessed various figures from Trump’s initial administration launching campaigns against him, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, who withdrew from the race in October, and Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
In anticipation of potential victory, Trump’s allies are actively assembling an administration-in-waiting by accepting applications for potential talent. Axios previously reported the use of artificial intelligence to align applicants’ ideologies with the former president’s, though some experts suggest this could be a strategic move to unsettle rivals and project an air of inevitability.
As Trump and Pence maintain a considerable distance since declaring their candidacies, speculation abounds regarding Trump’s choice for a running mate and who may be amenable to joining him on the ticket.
