Trump Rules Out Haley As VP Pick
Former President Donald Trump made it clear this week that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) would not be his running mate in the November election. The former president’s statements came amid rumors that he had a shortlist of potential vice presidential candidates, including one he spent time with this weekend.
Trump said that the former governor was “not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!”
“She is OK, but she is not presidential timber,” Trump said earlier this year. “And when I say that, that probably means she is not going to be chosen as the vice president.”
Trump’s announcement came just hours after speculation that he was considering Haley for the position.
Haley served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s time in the White House. After running against the former president in this year’s Republican primary, Haley has so far declined to endorse Trump.
The former president hosted a number of prominent Republicans at his Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this month. The former president has spoken highly of a number of prospective candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
Trump appears to have ruled several potential candidates out. Former Vice President Mike Pence announced earlier this year that he would not be supporting Trump in November. Furthermore, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) appeared to take herself out of the running after a passage from her memoir discussing shooting an unruly dog.
One of those at the Mar-a-Lago retreat is North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R). Burgum briefly ran a primary campaign for president this year and appeared with Trump at a weekend rally in New Jersey.
Trump appeared to hint at a future role for Burgum in a prospective second Trump White House.
🚨Just in: President Trump told North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to “Get ready for something.” at the rally in New Jersey.
pic.twitter.com/3Iu3eQNxPP— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 11, 2024
So far Trump has not indicated what the exact role would be.
Earlier this year the former president said that he had already decided on his vice presidential pick but would only announce it when the time was right.
