Congressman’s succinct response to VP question: “No comment.”

The Donalds 2024 pic.twitter.com/Xa4Dg0Usem

— Anna Paulina ‍Luna (@realannapaulina) July 17,‍ 2023

Last week, Donalds told ⁣Breitbart he ⁤would be⁣ more​ than​ willing ⁣to accept should ⁤the nod come his way.

“If ‍it⁣ came⁤ up?​ Oh yeah, ⁢of course, ⁣because you have the ⁢opportunity ⁣to do‌ really ​powerful things ⁢for the country ‍and really ‌help ​shape​ the country,”‍ Donalds said.

“But I’m a​ member⁢ of ⁣Congress. I⁢ just​ do ⁤my job. ⁢I‍ let⁣ everybody else ​speculate on ⁤the other stuff.”

Still, there’s an ‌awful​ lot ⁢of ⁢speculation as to⁣ who a second-in-command would ⁢be. ‌One assumes⁢ Mike Pence isn’t ​going to⁣ be applying ‍for a⁣ second⁤ go ​at‍ the gig ⁣when ⁣(and ⁢almost ⁣certainly not if) his campaign sputters ​to ‍a ⁣halt,​ leaving him⁢ plenty of time‍ to ⁣pontificate on the matter.

Obviously,‍ Trump might‌ not​ be the nominee — but ‌when⁣ a⁢ former president is​ at over 50‍ percent in​ the RealClearPolitics⁣ polling ​average ⁣and ​the ‍only ‍real⁣ challenger anyone ​seemed‌ to foresee to his renomination is failing⁤ to‍ gain ground ​and shaking‍ up his own ⁣campaign ⁣— ‍it’s not unreasonable⁤ to start⁤ asking the question.

One report earlier ‌this ⁢year ‌had four ⁤women at the⁤ top of ‌the president’s shortlist: ⁤Former U.S.⁤ ambassador to the ‌United Nations ⁣and⁤ South ‌Carolina Gov. ‍Nikki Haley, also a 2024 GOP nomination ⁣candidate;⁤ current South Dakota​ Gov. Kristi ​Noem; 2022 Arizona ⁤GOP gubernatorial nominee Kari ⁤Lake; and former ​Trump-era White House‌ press secretary⁣ and current‍ Arkansas Gov. Sarah ⁤Huckabee Sanders.

On Fox‍ News’ ​“Sunday ⁢Morning⁣ Futures,” Trump⁣ said he‍ was open⁣ to picking one of ‌his primary rivals as his⁢ running mate,⁣ according ‍to USA Today.

While⁢ Trump declined​ to‍ name⁣ names,⁣ saying⁢ he didn’t⁣ want ⁣to‍ “embarrass⁣ them,” Pence ⁢has ⁤unofficially ruled himself out by the very⁢ act⁢ of⁢ running against ⁤his ‍former‌ boss. Trump’s main⁣ challenger, Florida ⁢Gov. Ron ‌DeSantis, has officially ruled himself out⁣ — telling a podcast last‍ week he’s ⁤“not​ a No. ​2 ⁢guy,” ‌according​ to The ⁤New York ​Times.

However, one ⁣of the ⁣same‍ disincentives to ‌picking DeSantis for Trump ⁤pointed out⁣ by ⁣the Times would also exist for ‌Donalds:

“The 12th⁤ Amendment ⁤to⁤ the Constitution‌ forbids ⁢members of the Electoral College from voting⁢ for‌ a president ‌and ‍vice-president⁤ who are both from the same state​ as themselves. ⁣So if⁣ Mr. ⁣Trump picked Mr. ‌DeSantis, or ⁣another​ Florida ⁤resident like Mayor‍ Francis Suarez of ‌Miami, who is also⁤ in⁢ the race,⁣ he would forfeit the state’s 30 ‌electoral ⁣votes,” ⁢noted ‌the Times’ ⁤Nicholas Nehamas.

“One​ solution: Mr. Trump,⁣ who ⁤switched ‌his‌ residency​ to Florida ahead ⁣of the ⁣2020⁣ election, ⁣could change it back ​to​ New‌ York.”

But, it might just be easier ‍for Trump to pick one‌ of‍ the more⁤ friendly ​candidates ⁤he runs against during the 2024 ​primaries.

Aside ‍from Haley, businessman ⁢and‍ conservative activist Vivek Ramaswamy ⁢has been the surprise breakout⁢ of the⁣ pre-debate season⁢ and‌ finds ‌himself ⁢in fourth ⁤place in ⁣the RealClearPolitics polling ⁤aggregate ⁢— ​behind Trump, DeSantis and Pence⁤ —⁣ and ​South Carolina Sen. Tim ⁣Scott is⁣ reportedly ⁤poised ⁢for ‍a⁣ breakout ‍among⁢ major donors.

Thus, ‍there’s ⁣no shortage‍ of people who will take up the⁢ No. ‌2 position, should⁢ Trump ‍win ‌the ⁣nomination.

The‍ real ‍question‌ is ⁢whether‍ Donalds’ profile-raising appearances ‍on cable ⁤news and increasing importance​ in ​the House GOP⁢ caucus put‍ him on the ​former president’s‌ radar for‌ a running ​mate.

So far, things​ seem​ to be⁣ trending in ⁣that⁣ direction⁢ — but it’s a ​long​ way to the⁤ GOP⁢ convention next ⁣summer. And‍ Trump⁣ has ‍to win⁢ the ⁣nomination firsrt.

The⁢ post⁤ Congressman Responds with 2 Words When Asked Whether⁤ He’d‍ Be⁣ Trump’s VP⁤ appeared⁤ first on The Western​ Journal.

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