As former President Donald Trump gears up for another White House bid, the question of who will join him on the 2024 Republican ticket has become a topic of intense speculation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering. While Trump has yet to make a formal decision, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is lobbying for a running mate who can "take a punch" and hit back even harder, according to an interview with The Post.
"What I want in that role is I want a fighter," Trump Jr. told the newspaper. "I understand what they are going to throw at us." The former first son, who speaks with his father daily, often several times a day, has been pushing for candidates such as Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), former biotech entrepreneur and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Trump Jr.'s emphasis on a combative running mate reflects the increasingly contentious political landscape and the anticipation of fierce attacks from Democrats and the media. "In 2016 you needed someone to balance out [the ticket] - that's where Mike Pence made sense, sort of the yin and yang, but [given] the vicious nature of the swamp and the insanity we see on a daily basis, you need someone who can take those hits," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has compiled a list of more than a dozen potential vice presidential picks to be vetted, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. The list, described as "unsurprising," includes names that have been floated publicly by Trump himself, such as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
One surprise addition to the shortlist is Rubio, who clashed heavily with Trump during the 2016 GOP presidential primary. Despite initial anger toward Rubio for not endorsing him early on, Trump's consideration of the Florida senator is "very much real," according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussions. "He likes Rubio because he's Hispanic, young, a good speaker, natural charisma," a senior Trump adviser said.
Trump has also expressed increased interest in Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who has become a rising star in the Republican Party. Multiple allies have attempted to pitch Trump on South Carolina's Tim Scott, although one source who discussed Scott with Trump said he seemed uninterested during their conversation. Others close to the former president disagreed with this assessment, noting that Trump has been impressed by Scott as a surrogate after the senator suspended his own 2024 presidential campaign.
As the vice presidential search continues, Trump has indicated privately that he will announce his running mate in the early summer before the Republican convention. However, advisers say that Trump may yet decide on an earlier announcement to potentially fundraise off the selection and compete more effectively with President Joe Biden's campaign.
Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, who remains close to the campaign, have no plans to become a second "Javanka" in the West Wing, referring to the roles played by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner during Trump's last term. However, Trump Jr. said he plans to take a "very active" role in the 2024 presidential transition team, while Guilfoyle would remain focused on fundraising.
"Mostly just to make sure we stop some of the D.C. swamp rats and the swamp creatures from getting in there and doing their thing," Trump Jr. told The Post, emphasizing his preference for veterans of his father's first term, such as John Ratcliffe, a former director of national intelligence, and Cliff Sims, a former special assistant to President Trump.
