An adviser and spokesman for former President Donald Trump shot down a report citing anonymous sources claiming he is currently mulling a 2024 presidential bid without former Vice President Mike Pence.
The Bloomberg article stated that Trump “privately” has “discussed alternatives to Pence as he takes stock of who he believes stood with him at the end of his term and who didn’t” and cited “two of the people” who “requested anonymity because the conversations have been private.” Also according to the report, Trump is looking to find a black or female running mate such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) or Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, respectively.
Trump endorsed Scott for his 2022 reelection bid on Tuesday via his Save America PAC.
The former president spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Sunday evening but did not commit to running in 2024, although he did tell the crowd: “I might even decide to beat them a third time.”
“With your help, we will take back the house, we will win the Senate and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House. And I wonder who that will be,” he also said at the end of the speech.
During the Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 6, Trump criticized Pence on Twitter for taking part in the election certification before the breach of the Capitol and alleged the former vice president did not “do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts.” Twitter later took down his tweet.
Pence and his wife Karen also attended President Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, while Trump did not, instead opting to give a short speech to a small crowd before he departed for Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump’s tweet, along with Pence’s decision to partake in the joint session, has fueled speculation and rumors that the two are not on speaking terms. However, Pence is said to have praised Trump in a meeting with GOP members of Congress.
