From a Fox News town hall in Des Moines on Thursday, January 11, 2024, former President Donald J. Trump hinted at having already decided on his running mate for the upcoming Republican presidential primary, as reported by The New York Times.
“I can’t tell you that really,” Trump responded coyly when questioned about a potential vice president. “I mean, I know who it’s going to be.”
While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, Trump expressed a willingness to reconcile with rivals in the Republican primary, injecting a touch of humor by playfully mentioning the prospect of choosing Chris Christie, who had suspended his campaign earlier that day despite being a vocal critic of Trump.
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“I don’t see it,” Trump chuckled. “That would be an upset. Christie for vice president.”
Despite the president’s jesting, campaign advisers were unable to illuminate the decision-making process or provide insights into the timing of Trump’s choice. Chris LaCivita, one of Trump’s top aides, remarked, “All I know is what I heard tonight, and I’m not going to categorize it any other way than that.”
With Trump consistently leading in polls and his nomination widely anticipated among Republicans, speculation has intensified about his potential running mate. Discussions among Trump’s friends and advisers have explored the idea of selecting a woman to help regain support from suburban women who voted for President Biden in 2020. Additionally, there is consideration of choosing a person of color to build upon the gains Trump made in the previous election with Black and Hispanic men.
Several individuals mentioned as potential running mates have actively campaigned for Trump in Iowa recently. Among them are Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who held events in the state the previous week, and Kari Lake, a former candidate for Arizona governor planning an event in Iowa on Friday.
Trump’s consistent hints suggest a departure from his previous running mate, Mike Pence, likely due to Pence’s prior run against him for the GOP presidential nomination before suspending his campaign in late October.
