Former president Donald Trump is making his third run for the White House, The Guardian reports.
But this time there is a new job vacancy on the ticket. Who will be Trump’s running mate?
No one thinks it will be the former vice president Mike Pence, who was on the ticket the previous two times. Pence and Trump fell out over the 2020 election and January 6 insurrection. So no one anticipates Pence will be appearing on the 2024 ticket.
Trump, a 76-year-old straight, white man, may need to broaden his appeal experts say, so therefore might look to a person of color, a woman, or a young person for 2024.
Tucker Carlson is a highly anticipated potential running mate. The Fox News host turned up last summer in Iowa, which gets the first say in the Republican presidential nominating process, prompting speculation about his political ambitions.
Carlson is a kindred spirit to Trump. He goads liberals, appeases Russian president Vladimir Putin, and promotes far-right conservative views, including the “great replacement” theory that western elites are importing immigrant voters to supplant white people.
Another potential running mate would be Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Some “Make America Great Again” voters torn between the authentic original and his upstart rival want to see them join forces on a dream MAGA ticket.
But there has been a loss of love between the two. Trump has now branded him “Ron DeSanctimonious” as DeSantis has gained in popularity within the Republican party. Many see him as being Trump’s main rival rather than a potential running mate at this point.
Former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is attempting to launch a new career as a right-wing media personality. She campaigned for election-denier Kari Lake and other Republicans in the midterm elections. Her provocative challenges to western orthodoxy towards dictators such as Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad could be something that Trump likes and admires. He may also decide he needs a female running mate to make himself more palatable to women voters.
But Gabbard is not the only woman who could run with him. Far-right congresswoman, the highly controversial Marjorie Taylor Greene, could be on the ticket. The Georgia congresswoman personifies the age of Trumpism. She makes frequent racist, antisemitic and Islamophobic statements. She has also shown her support for political violence and wild conspiracy theories. She also idolizes Trump.
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley was Trump’s first ambassador to the United Nations. But the two had a falling out over the Jan. 6 insurrection. However, she, unlike many other Republicans, found it easy to forgive him.
Kari Lake was the breakout Republican star of the midterm elections until she lost the race for governor of Arizona. The charismatic former TV anchor was endorsed by Trump and found a way to repeat his election lies while sounding almost credible. Trump has invited her twice to Mar-a-Lago in Florida since she lost.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem could be another pick. She has become a familiar face on the conservative conference and media circuit, railing against targets such as coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and the Chinese Communist party.
Trump loyalist Sarah Sanders, who was his White House press secretary, is another potential. Last month she was elected as governor of Arkansas.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott is said to be eyeing his own run for president. The Trump campaign might regard Scott as a compelling choice, hoping that he would neutralize accusations of racism and rally “Blacks for Trump”.
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