Former President Donald Trump may announce his vice presidential running mate as early as this week, according to sources close to the situation. The report, citing four anonymous individuals, suggests that high-level discussions have taken place regarding an earlier announcement than previously planned.
Trump had previously stated that he would reveal his choice of running mate shortly before or at the Republican National Convention, scheduled for July 15-18. However, the sources claim that Trump’s team is considering moving up the announcement to make a bigger impact.
The topic of Trump’s running mate has gained significant attention as both Trump and President Joe Biden prepare for Thursday’s presidential debate. Trump has confirmed that he has made a decision on his running mate and hinted that they may be present at the debate.
Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita appeared to dismiss the report, joking about the supposed scoop on social media.
The Trump campaign, however, remained tight-lipped, stating that only Donald Trump himself knows who his running mate will be and when the announcement will be made.
The campaign emphasized that the top criteria for selecting a vice president is a strong leader who can serve as a great president for eight years after Trump’s next term concludes. Potential running mates include Gov. Doug Burgum, who dodged questions about any conversations with Trump regarding the vice presidency, as well as several other high-profile Republicans, including Ben Carson, Elise Stefanik, Byron Donalds, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, J.D. Vance, and Tom Cotton.