Trump’s vice president? Some in the Republican Party are already fighting for consideration

WASHINGTON – Trips to Mar-a-Lago. Brilliant speeches. Front row seats at major events.

Almost a year is left before the first presidential primaries from the Republican Party, and the field of candidates has not been determined. But a different kind of shady rivalry is already underway, with several Republicans openly attempting to position themselves as potential candidates for running mate Donald Trump, one of the early contenders for the nomination.

“A lot of people are auditioning right now,” Trump boasted to his supporters in Florida last month.

Simply mentioning a running mate at such an early stage in the process is a departure from the traditional presidential primaries schedule, when candidates typically spend the first months of a campaign introducing themselves to voters and sharing their vision of the country. But as a former president, Trump needs no introduction and is keen to create an atmosphere of inevitability around his campaign, especially as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who many see as his toughest potential GOP challenger, is gaining attention.

Trump campaign officials insist that the search for a vice president is not something they are actively discussing.

“We appreciate any support for President Trump, but the focus is on making sure he wins the Republican nomination and has a good chance of winning the 2024 general election,” said Jason Miller, a longtime Trump adviser.

That, however, hasn’t stopped some potential candidates from taking full advantage of opportunities to be in Trump’s close proximity, at his club and at events. The dynamic was on full display earlier this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where three women who were mentioned as possible contenders sat in the audience to cheer on Trump’s speech.

They were Congressmen Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, Elise Stefanik of New York, and Kari Lake, an Arizona gubernatorial candidate-turned-news anchor who ended her keynote speech by kissing a portrait of Trump that stood on stage. .

Although Trump, according to people who spoke to him, is in no hurry to make a decision and understands that he must allow the nomination process to end, he nonetheless discussed options long before he officially announced his candidacy last fall. . In these conversations, he expressed his interest in choosing a woman this time.

But allies say Trump is looking, first and foremost, for someone who will be unabashedly loyal after former Vice President Mike Pence burned himself on him for refusing to overturn the 2020 election results.

In 2016, running as a celebrity businessman with no background in politics, Trump chose a man who was in many ways his opposite, choosing the governor of Indiana and a former congressman who could bolster his authority among conservatives and the religious right.

Trump is looking for someone more like himself this time around, said Michael Caputo, a longtime friend and adviser who believes Stefanik would be Trump’s best bet.

“I think the president has learned a lot from his experience with Pence,” he said. “I think this time around, Trump will be looking for someone cut in the same fabric as him, not another, complementary fabric.”

While Trump is looking for someone with star power, he has also made it clear that he doesn’t want to pick someone who can outshine him in the race.

Among those most aspiring to the job is Lake, who is popular in Trump’s MAGA base and won and later was promoted in a CPAC straw poll that asked viewers who they’d like to see as a running mate for VP. Republican Presidents. She is seen as unreservedly loyal to the former president, but detractors point out that she lost her only race and continues to contest the results, which would draw attention to Trump’s own electoral failures and heighten criticism for being too focused on the past.

“I am 100% committed to my cause as Governor of Arizona,” Lake said in a statement. “I will also work to ensure that President Trump returns to the White House as soon as possible. Anything that goes beyond these two goals is nothing but a distraction.”

A person close to Lake said she had no formal discussions about the role, which is currently being groomed for a potential Senate run. But the man, who, like others, asked to remain anonymous to discuss private conversations, also said that Lake is unabashedly supportive of Trump and will likely do whatever he asks.

Green, the ardent congresswoman who recently proposed a “national divorce” between red and blue states, is also aspiring to that role. She was a constant presence at Trump’s interim rallies, frequently spoke during the pre-show program, and was a frequent visitor to Florida, including dining with Lake at a local restaurant, Rocco’s Tacos, on Valentine’s Day.

“She sees herself on the shortlist for Vice President Trump. To paraphrase Koki Roberts, when MTG looks in the mirror, she sees the would-be president smile back,” Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, who often takes Green on his podcast in reference to the late political reporter, told NBC.

When asked recently about her vice presidential ambitions, Green told reporters, “It’s up to President Trump who he chooses.”

Stefanik is also often cited as a likely contender, but he takes what the Allies call a more subtle approach. She supported Trump even before he announced he was running and became one of his top advocates on the hill. During CPAC, Stefanik used her speech to call for Trump’s re-election and introduced him at a private event hosted by his supercomputing committee. Trump, in turn, called her a “rocket.”

People close to Stefanik say that instead of openly seeking the position, she is focused on doing her job as chair of the GOP conference and a member of the House Intelligence Committee, believing that if she does it well, good things will follow. affairs. But she nonetheless has the backing of several Trump allies, who see her as disciplined and less risky than other potential options, and point to her track record of winners in suburban areas.

Stefanik said in an interview that she did not discuss this position with Trump, although she had previously said that she would be honored to serve in his administration.

“We have a lot of work to do over the next two years and I will work no matter what to make sure we have a Republican President, House of Representatives and Senate in 2024,” she said. “That’s what I’ve been focusing on, and it’s a lot of work.”

Trump also discussed other potential running mate, including his former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who has been reluctant to criticize the former president since her bid. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who will become the first black Republican presidential candidate, is seen as another potential option.

Allies say both are serious about running for president on their own rather than in hopes of becoming vice president or another cabinet post, though many believe Haley in particular would be open to an offer.

Also mentioned as possible contenders are: South Dakota Gov. Christy Noem, who is considering her own presidential run; Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn, supporter of the former president in 2016 and 2020; and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who appeared with the former president when he visited the state on Monday.

“We will have many great options for the post of vice president. We’ll pick a great one,” Trump said during his Iowa tour.