Former President Donald Trump, who secured the Republican nomination for the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November, reportedly made various assessments of his potential running mates (vice presidential candidates) at a fundraising event held on the 4th (local time) at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
The Mar-a-Lago event on that day was also described as being similar to an audition in the style of "The Apprentice" (the famous TV reality show featuring former President Trump).
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 5th, U.S. media outlet Axios obtained an audio recording from the Mar-a-Lago event and reported that prominent close aides of former President Trump visited the Mar-a-Lago resort on the 4th for a vice presidential candidate "audition" and received real-time evaluations about themselves.
According to the audio recording, former President Trump described Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, as "someone I love," saying, "He was with me, he is my supporter, and I have been his longtime supporter."
The female Governor Noem recently faced criticism for revealing in her memoir that she killed a puppy, which was deemed cruel, and also sparked controversy after it was revealed that she falsely claimed to have met Kim Jong-un, Chairman of North Korea.
Former President Trump also praised Tim Scott (South Carolina), the only Black Republican senator, saying, "He did well as a candidate and was amazing as an aide."
Senator Scott ran as a Republican presidential primary candidate but withdrew and has since been an enthusiastic supporter of former President Trump.
Regarding Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota, who also withdrew from the Republican presidential primary, Trump said, "I didn’t know he was a supporter of my two campaigns. He is a very wealthy man."
About Senator Marco Rubio (Florida), he said, "His name is often mentioned as a vice presidential candidate," and praised Representative Elise Stefanik as "a very smart person."
Regarding Senator J.D. Vance (Ohio), he said, "At first, he was not my supporter. He even said things like 'That guy is a complete disaster,'" adding, "Anyway, I got to know him a little, and as a non-politician, he has become one of the great senators."
The individuals who received former President Trump's "evaluations" that day are those who have been mentioned as potential running mates.
After attending the event, some of these figures appeared on various broadcasts to emphasize their loyalty to former President Trump.
Senator Scott appeared on NBC and, when pressured with the question, "Will you accept the results of the 2024 election no matter who wins?" reiterated his previous stance, saying, "America will choose President Trump."
Governor Burgum stated on CNN that if former President Trump is found guilty in the trial related to the 'hush money for sexual misconduct' allegations, "it would be a pathetic imitation disguised as justice."
Within and outside the Republican Party, the basic qualification for a vice president is seen as someone who can solidify former President Trump's support base, centered on the far-right, while complementing it by expanding support to women, people of color, and moderates.
There is also a consensus that since former President Trump would have to step down after completing a four-year term if elected, the vice president should be someone who could potentially run as a candidate in the 2028 presidential election.
Former President Trump only needs to select his vice presidential candidate before the Republican National Convention scheduled for July, where the presidential nominee will be officially chosen.
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