Who Would Donald Trump Choose for Vice President? – The New York Times
Donald J. Trump’s victories in the first Republican presidential contests and his lead in the polls have left much of the political world viewing his nomination as all but inevitable.
They have also inspired a fair amount of speculation about who might wind up on a 2024 ticket beside him, with possible contenders like Tim Scott, Elise Stefanik, J.D. Vance and Kristi Noem campaigning on his behalf at rallies leading up to the early nominating contests.
Trump has offered conflicting thoughts on the role, saying just before the Iowa caucuses that he knew whom he’d choose as his running mate — only to walk that back a month later, telling Fox News that he hadn’t decided and that he wouldn’t announce his decision “for a while.” He has said his No. 2 should be someone “who is going to be a good president.”
One thing is almost certain: Trump will steer clear of former Vice President Mike Pence, who crossed him by certifying the 2020 election results.
Trump has weighed the pros and cons of some contenders with friends and advisers. His team has discussed possible parameters, like whether a woman on the ticket would help win back suburban women who abandoned him in the last election, or if choosing a person of color would be a smart choice, given the gains he saw in 2020 with Black and Hispanic men.
Either way, Mar-a-Lago courtiers generally agree that any résumé for the No. 2 spot on the ticket must include some Trump-specific requirements that defy demographics: absolute loyalty to the Trump brand, a willingness to filter every decision and public comment through a subservient lens, and the know-it-when-you-see-it “central casting” look the former president prizes.
Here’s a look at some possible contenders.
Household names in national politics, these are some of the figures most often floated as possible running mates.
A senator from South Carolina, Scott ran for president but dropped out in November.
Al Drago/EPA, via Shutterstock
Haley, a former United Nations ambassador under Trump and a former governor of South Carolina, is running for president against him.
Samuel Corum for The New York Times
Stefanik, a five-term congresswoman, has morphed from a Bush administration staff member into a prominent Trump supporter.
Hans Pennink/Associated Press
The Florida senator, a rival to Trump in 2016, has hummed along as a reliable Trump ally and leading Republican voice on foreign policy issues.
Scott McIntyre for The New York Times
Pompeo, a former congressman from Kansas, was a fixture in the Trump administration, first as C.I.A. director and then as secretary of state.
Al Drago for The New York Times
For any potential Trump sidekick, a track record of accomplishments is nice to have. A track record of fealty may be even more important.
The best-selling author and former venture capitalist is now a senator from Ohio, thanks largely to a Trump endorsement.
Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times
A retired neurosurgeon who ran against Trump in 2016, Carson served under Trump as secretary of housing and urban development.
Trump’s former White House press secretary, she parlayed the exposure that gave her into the Arkansas governor’s office.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
A popular governor and a former congresswoman, Noem has welcomed speculation that she could be invited to join the ticket.
Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times
A former House member from Texas who served as the director of national intelligence in Trump’s administration.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
Lake, a prominent election denier, narrowly lost the 2022 Arizona governor’s race.
Rebecca Noble for The New York Times
Lesser known on the national stage, these politicians could provide the ticket with a fresh face.
A wealthy entrepreneur, Ramaswamy built his presidential bid around his devotion to Trump, and many Republican voters responded warmly.
Kenny Holston/The New York Times
A second-term congressman who has made a name for himself in Washington as an avatar for the next generation of pro-Trump Republicans.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times
A House member from South Carolina who was the first female military recruit to graduate from the Citadel.
Kenny Holston/The New York Times
A freshman in the House and a retired Army Apache helicopter pilot, he has become one of the party’s rising stars.
Suzanne Cordeiro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
They’re long shots, yes. But Donald Trump is far from a predictable politician.
North Dakota’s governor came up well short in the 2024 Republican presidential race. But he did put himself in the conversation for the party’s No. 2 slot.
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The former Fox News anchor is widely viewed as one of the ideological godfathers of Trumpian Republicanism.
Saul Martinez for The New York Times
A senator and former Florida governor, Scott has an untarnished electoral record in one of the nation’s biggest political battlegrounds.
Al Drago/The New York Times
A far-right conspiracy theorist, Greene is one of Trump’s top surrogates on the campaign trail.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
A first-term senator from Alabama — and the state’s first woman ever elected to the office — Britt is viewed as one of the party’s savvy young talents.
Produced by Jeff Furticella, Zach Johnk and Rebecca Lieberman. Additional reporting by Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman.
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