Trump Discusses VP Pick: ‘I Know Who It’s Going to Be’

Former President and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks during a town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2024. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump said at a town hall in Iowa on Wednesday that he’s made up his mind about a running mate for the 2024 presidential election—though he declined to reveal the potential future vice president’s identity.

During the event, President Trump was asked about who’s in contention as a running mate on the 2024 Republican presidential ticket—assuming he wins the nomination.

“Well, I can’t tell you that, really,” President Trump replied, before adding, “I mean, I know who it’s going to be.”

Asked to “give us a hint,” President Trump declined, saying, “we'll do another show sometime” about the matter.

The former president, who’s the frontrunner by far for the Republican nomination, was asked if he'd be willing to consider any of those running against him in the primary and “mend fences” with those from whom he’s faced sharp criticism.

“Oh sure, I will, I will,” President Trump replied, suggesting he wouldn’t hold grudges. “I’ve already started to like Christie better,” he continued, drawing smiles from the moderators and cheers from the audience.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who’s been perhaps the most vocal detractor of the former president, dropped out of the primary race earlier that day.

Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie prepares to take the debate stage in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 6, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

“Christie for vice president?” one of the moderators, Fox News’ Martha MacCallum, then asked in jest.

“I don’t see it,” President Trump replied. “That would be an upset,” he added, drawing laughter from the audience.

Currently, President Trump maintains a commanding lead over his rivals in the primary, with 61.1 percent support, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is polling in second place with 11.3 percent, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with 10.9 percent.

Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is polling in fourth place with 4.1 percent support of likely Republican voters.

VP Chatter

As the primaries grind on and the field narrows, talk of a possible Trump running mate has increased—though the former president has kept his running-mate choice under wraps.

President Trump said in September that he liked the idea of a woman serving as his vice president if elected to the Oval Office in 2024, though he was quick to note that it’s a bad idea to make gender a decisive factor.

“Are you leaning toward a woman?” NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker asked President Trump in a mid-September interview.

“I like the concept, but we’re going to pick the best person,” President Trump replied. “But I do like the concept, yes.”

Former President and 2024 Presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at a Team Trump Iowa Commit to Caucus event in Maquoketa, Iowa, on Sept. 20, 2023. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Rumors have long swirled that President Trump was considering a woman as his running mate in order to court the female suburban vote that some strategists believe would be key to beating President Joe Biden.

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said he thinks a woman is destined for the role.

“I believe that President Trump will have a female” as his VP, said Mr. Bannon, speaking with ex-Trump press secretary Sean Spicer during a Dec. 15 podcast.

‘Not a Plan B Person’

There’s been speculation about other potential VP picks, including Mr. Ramaswamy—after President Trump indicated that he was open to the idea of having him as a potential running mate.

Mr. Ramaswamy, who has spoken favorably of President Trump and his policy record, downplayed that possibility. He said in an appearance on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” that he was focusing on his presidential campaign and not spending much time planning for contingencies.

“I think that I’m not a plan B person,” Mr. Ramaswamy said. “I didn’t get to where I am—I’m 38 years old, I’ve found multiple multi-billion dollar companies, we’re blessed with the American dream to be able to self-fiance and lift this campaign up.”

Republican presidential candidate entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy participates in the fourth GOP presidential primary debate at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 6, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

In August, Mr. Ramaswamy praised the former president as “the best president of the 21st century,” during the first GOP presidential debate in Milwaukee.

“I respect Trump and his accomplishments for this country,” he said. “Unlike a lot of the other candidates, I’m not sitting here Monday morning quarterbacking some decision he made.”

President Trump recently said that he expects Mr. Ramaswamy will eventually endorse him for president—but not quite yet.

“He will, I am sure, Endorse me,” President Trump wrote in a recent post on Truth Social, in which he shared an article revealing that Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign had stopped spending money on TV ads.

“But Vivek is a good man, and is not done yet!” the former president added.

A spokesperson for Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed to some media outlets that TV ads were being dropped in favor of a different strategy—namely targeted advertising such as email and text messages, as well as old-fashioned door-knocks.