Trump Reveals 6 Potential VP Picks
Former President Donald Trump gave some clues about who his running mate might be in a recent town hall, naming six potential names and discussing what he’s looking for in a vice president.
The candidates for Trump’s vice president pick are Vivek Ramaswamy, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-R) and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). Three of these candidates, Ramaswamy, DeSantis and Scott, had previously contended with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump discussed his picks during the South Carolina town hall hosted by Fox News on Monday, commending all six potential running mates.
Vivek Ramaswamy is the only potential candidate listed without a background in politics, but what was a weakness in his presidential bid could become a strength as a VP pick. Ramaswamy is especially popular with young people, and could help Trump round out his voter base.
Ron DeSantis has gained widespread popularity with Republicans thanks to his exceptional track record in Florida. He had a small section of dedicated support when he was running for the nomination, and would make a solid pick. But there are likely trust issues here, as DeSantis quietly laid the groundwork for a run against Trump and eventually sought to stop him from what most conservatives believe is a well-deserved second term in the White House.
Trump spoke directly about Sen. Tim Scott, who was in the crowd, saying, “He’s been such a great advocate,” adding, “I have to say — this is in a very positive way — Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself. I watched his campaign and he doesn’t like talking about himself, but boy, does he talk about Trump.”
Kristi Noem is the Governor of South Dakota, and has a staunchly conservative track record of opposing abortion, mask mandates and heavy gun control. She has the potential to be particularly popular with conservative women.
Byron Donalds is an up-and-coming Florida Republican with a background in finance, and is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump. He advocates for a more limited federal government, and agrees with Trump’s “drain the swamp” agenda. His policies are in line with the average Republican voter’s goals, and would make a great VP pick.
Tulsi Gabbard is a United States Army Reserve officer and political commentator who represented Hawaii’s second district in the House of Representatives as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021. She ran for the Democrats’ presidential nomination in 2020 but lost to Joe Biden.
Gabbard, being an old-fashioned Democrat, was far to conservative for her political party, who criticized her for things like wanting a secure border and taking the classic Democrat “safe, legal, and rare” stance on abortion. She officially renounced the Democrat Party and became an independent in 2022. She’s popular with moderate Democrats and Independents.
Trump still hasn’t shared when he intends to announce his running mate, but as he said in the town hall, “all of these people are good … they’re all solid.”