- Trump wants a vice-presidential running mate with more similarities to himself as he looks to 2024, according to a former adviser.
- “Trump is going to get someone cut from the same cloth as him,” Michael Caputo told the AP.
- Trump reportedly indicated interest in selecting a running mate.
In 2016, Donald Trump tapped then-Indiana Governor Mike Pence as vice-presidential vice president in what was seen as a smart move to bring in a Republican who was both dignified trusted by rank-and-file conservatives and who had experience in state and federal government.
But seven years on, the former president – who is running for the Republican presidential nomination for the third time – is prioritizing a running mate who looks more like him as he considers the running mates of 2024, former Trump aide Michael Caputo told The Associated Press. .
Trump, who has continued to speak out against the 2020 presidential election and Pence’s role in certifying current President Joe Biden’s victory, appears to be looking for a No. 2 who may be more loyal.
Trump isn’t pushing for any major decisions yet, but he’s considered a few potential options and expressed interest in selecting a running mate, the AP reported.
Caputo, a former assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, told the outlet he believes Rep. Elise Stefanik, president of the House Republican Conference, would be his first choice.
“I think the president learned a lot from his experience with Pence,” Caputo, who was an adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign for Trump, told the outlet. “I think this time Trump is going to be looking for someone cut from the same cloth as him, not a different, complementary cloth.”
While Trump is now the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, the race is still in its early stages. The only other avowed opponents of the former president are former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the only other Republican now threatening Trump’s dominance in the nomination race, has yet to officially announce whether he will pursue a presidential campaign in 2024.
businessinsider
