PHOENIX — The veepstakes are rising as Americans wonder who former President Donald Trump will choose.
At Trump’s Thursday town hall in Phoenix, attendees offered a wide range of thoughts on who they would like to see as his second in command.
The suggestions stretched from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to simply “Not Nikki Haley.”
“Kristi’s been a constant supporter of Republicans and backing the whole situation from Day One with Trump, and she’s a good advocate for our country,” Brian Szayer of Peoria said about Noem.
“More than that, she also is an incredible governor for her state. So if she could do for the country what she’s done for her state, yes, please,” Sharon Szayer added.
Some, however, said they believe Trump will make the right choice regardless.
“No, and I explicitly trust Trump’s judgment to pick the right person,” Tom Berry of the West Valley told The Post when asked if he had a preference for the role.
Others suggested politicians who are not Republicans, including former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“He would pull independents and Democrats,” Grant G. of Chandler said of Kennedy.
Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, have a famously contentious relationship following their disagreement on certifying the 2020 election and what happened Jan. 6, 2021.
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Pence pursued a bid for the Republican nomination this cycle, but he dropped out in October before any primary.
The Republican National Convention kicks off July 15, in which the party will presumably nominate Trump and whoever he chooses as his running mate. Vice-presidential picks are sometimes strategically selected to help a candidate win a geographic area or another demographic.
The New York Post reported last week that vetting paperwork has been sent to several people including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Elise Stefanik, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, as well as Sens. Tim Scott, Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance.
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Vance shared his thoughts on the race with reporters at the Trump town hall.
“First of all, I’m thankful it’s not my decision because I think that Trump has a lot of different things that he’s weighing, and he’s the guy who’s gonna make the decision,” he said.“My view is the most important thing is you need somebody who’s gonna help govern.”
The Trump event, which was hosted by Turning Point Action and the Turning Point Political Action Committee, was the first since his conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush-money trial and his first time in Arizona since the midterm elections.
