Who are Trump's potential VP picks? Here are some who are in the running

Former President Donald Trump has been fielding questions astir who's connected nan shortlist to beryllium his vice president and nan qualities he's looking for successful a moving mate, moreover though nan Republican National Convention is still months away. Sources adjacent to nan Trump run opportunity Trump is apt to make nan announcement person to nan convention, akin to 2016, erstwhile he announced days earlier nan normal that then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence would beryllium his moving mate. 

But nan hunt is underway, according to Trump advisers, and immoderate of nan names that are coming up astir consistently person been connected his database for months: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

However, nan erstwhile president whitethorn beryllium starting to winnow his list. 

Sources opportunity South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — whom Trump erstwhile said he was considering for nan occupation — has fallen disconnected nan database of apical contenders. 

Noem has precocious been beset by controversy aft excerpts from her caller book, "No Going Back: The Truth connected What's Wrong pinch Politics and How We Move America Forward," revealed that she changeable and killed her 14-month aged canine Cricket aft nan canine allegedly grounded astatine pheasant hunting training. 

Noem defended herself successful a post connected X, pointing to a South Dakota rule that states dogs showing fierce behaviour tin beryllium put down. "Given that Cricket had shown fierce behaviour toward group by biting them, I decided what I did," Noem wrote. 

The Trump run has not publically commented connected nan story. A Trump advisor pinch knowledge of nan vice president vetting process said Noem has been a "good surrogate." 

Noem was 1 of nan first governors to endorse Trump, announcing she was backing him astatine a rally past September, and she campaigned for him respective times successful Iowa earlier nan January caucuses. Noem told Newsmax successful September that she would see nan vice statesmanlike slot "in a heartbeat." She besides has adjacent ties to MAGA world and pinch erstwhile Trump run head Corey Lewandowski. 

Also slipping down connected nan database is erstwhile Trump management charismatic and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders. Sources show CBS News that her banal has dropped because Trump remembers that she "took truthful long" successful endorsing her erstwhile leader during nan primary. She officially endorsed Trump during a run rally successful Hialeah, Florida, successful November 2023 – a twelvemonth aft he launched his 3rd bid for nan White House. 

Sanders, 41, is nan youngest politician successful nan state and is seen arsenic a rising prima successful nan statement who tin speak to suburban women. Last year, she delivered nan Republican consequence to President Biden's State of nan Union address. 

But Sanders has besides dismissed nan thought of serving arsenic vice president. When asked by "Face nan Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan if she'd opportunity yes to joining nan Trump ticket, Gov. Sanders said, "I americium honored to service arsenic governor, and I dream I get to do it for nan adjacent 7 years." 

Sen. Scott is 1 of nan apical names mentioned by sources adjacent to nan erstwhile president arsenic a apical contender for vice president. 

The South Carolina GOP legislator has dodged questions astir whether he'd tally pinch Trump. But he was speedy to endorse Trump aft dropping his ain bid conscionable earlier nan New Hampshire primary, a rustle to chap South Carolinian and erstwhile Gov. Nikki Haley, who had primitively appointed him to nan vacant U.S. Senate spot he still occupies. 

Trump has praised Scott arsenic a "man of faith, courageousness and conviction, a man who fought for those opportunities zones for illustration cipher would ever conflict and schoolhouse prime and besides taking attraction of nan historically Black colleges." 

Scott,the highest-ranking Black Republican successful nan GOP, could thief Trump tribunal Black voters, traditionally a cardinal Democratic voting bloc. 

Scott told "CBS Mornings" successful January that he would ne'er inquire for a furniture position from Trump, but declined to reply whether he wants to service arsenic Trump's vice president. 

"The 1 point I want to do is make judge we triumph successful 2024," he told anchor Gayle King. "I don't deliberation astir this from a individual perspective." 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — different erstwhile 2024 statesmanlike campaigner — is besides seen arsenic a imaginable VP prime by nan Trump campaign. Burgum was nan first of nan erstwhile 2024 statesmanlike candidates to officially endorse Trump, joining him for a rally successful Indianola, Iowa, connected Jan. 14, nan eve of nan Iowa caucuses, to denote his support. 

The Trump squad likes Burgum, who refrained from saying thing antagonistic astir nan erstwhile president during his ain statesmanlike candidacy. 

"Everybody loves Burgum," 1 apical Trump advisor said astir nan North Dakota governor, but added that Trump was nan 1 who would yet choose. "We could study astir it successful a Truth Social post," nan advisor said.

Burgum is seen arsenic a coagulated blimpish pinch credentials that could beryllium a bully fresh for various furniture positions. Trump has referred to him as"one of nan champion governors successful our country."

As governor, Burgum signed into rule a six-week abortion prohibition and authorities to restrict transgender rights. He's besides a fiscal hawk who has trim authorities spending while enacting nan largest taxation trim successful North Dakota history. He's led North Dakota since 2016 and announced successful January that he would not activity a 3rd word arsenic governor. 

Rubio, nan elder legislator from Florida and ex-2016 statesmanlike rival to Trump, is besides nether consideration. The boy of 2 Cuban immigrants, he is seen arsenic personification who could thief nan run entreaty to Latino voters. 

Rubio endorsed Trump nan time earlier nan Iowa caucuses successful a post connected X, and has noted he worked pinch Trump connected nan expanded Child Tax Credit and sanctions connected Venezuela and Cuba during his presidency. 

Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, a renowned neurosurgeon and erstwhile caput of Housing and Urban Development, was 1 of nan longest-serving furniture secretaries during Trump's administration. He is besides allegedly still connected nan VP short database — Carson remained loyal to nan erstwhile president aft Jan. 6, erstwhile respective furniture secretaries resigned successful protest, citing nan attack connected nan Capitol. 

Carson is viewed arsenic a safe prime for vice president since he is well-liked by conservatives and Christians. In consequence to whether he and Trump person had discussions astir serving arsenic vice president, Carson said, "I don't want to speak astir backstage conversations." 

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik is 1 of Trump's fiercest defenders. As nan No. 4 House Republican, she was 1 of nan first members of Congress to endorse Trump erstwhile he announced his 3rd bid for nan White House. 

Thirty-nine year-old Stefanik is almost half Trump's age. She is seen arsenic personification who would transportation nan torch for nan MAGA activity nan 77-year-old erstwhile president began and has fought for Trump connected galore occasions arsenic a cardinal personnel of his impeachment defense squad successful 2019. 

In January, she echoed Trump's characterization of jailed Jan. 6 defendants arsenic "hostages," and she's revenge aggregate morals complaints against judges successful cases involving nan erstwhile president. Stefanik was 1 of 147 Republicans who voted against certifying nan 2020 predetermination results.

Sources person said Trump sees Stefanik arsenic a imaginable moving mate. When asked whether she would service arsenic his vice president, Stefanik told NBC News' "Meet nan Press" that she would beryllium "honored to service successful immoderate capacity successful a Trump administration."  

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• Donald Trump