Donald Trump said none of the current vice presidential candidates impress him — and he even reportedly snubbed his favorite, Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump, 77, personally told Ramaswamy, a former multimillionaire biotech executive, that he would not be his vice presidential choice, according to Bloombergas he rates candidates on their loyalty and dress sense.
Sources who were briefed on the conversation told the outlet that Trump was seeking him for a cabinet position — potentially secretary of Homeland Security — instead.
He was a front-runner for the job, with many seeing him as the ideal complement to Trump after falling in line behind the former president immediately after abandoning his own candidacy.
But Trump would instead favor North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Elise Stefanik and former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
Trump reportedly personally told Ramaswamy that he would not be his choice for vice president.
Ramaswamy was one of the frontrunners for the role, with the pair believed to be close in recent weeks.
Anonymous sources told the outlet that Trump was in talks with several of his allies about potential administration positions.
He would evaluate them on loyalty, ideology and voting power – but he also wants them to be successful, rich and well-dressed.
His son-in-law Jared Kushner offers help and suggestions while his son Donald Trump Jr. reportedly expressed interest in a key role during discussions over long meals at his Mar-a-Lago club.
Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is considered a leading favorite to serve as chief of staff, while Senate Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas are seen as possibilities for the post of Attorney General.
But Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, told Bloomberg it was too early to say who he would choose: “The truth is, unless you hear it directly from President Trump or his campaign, all of this is just stupidity.”
As his vice presidential candidate, Trump would like someone who is not motivated by the limelight and says he is not impressed by the names currently being floated.
Last week, Trump said he had already ruled out some possible vice presidential nominees because they had not “behaved properly,” then bragged that he could have anyone from his choice on his list, including a Democrat.
Ramaswamy supported Trump when he withdrew his own presidential bid in January
Dozens of names have been debated as potential presidential candidates for Trump.
However, he told Newsmax host Greg Kelly that he had excluded some, although he refused to say who.
‘I thought some people weren’t behaving properly. Yes, I think I excluded some people, but I excluded a lot.
“We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party“, and they will do a wonderful job, I think, but I certainly have people that I wouldn’t want as vice president,” Trump said.
Ramaswamy had has grown closer to Trump since he abandoned his own presidential bid.
He and his wife were seen with Donald and Melania Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month, another sign of closeness.
But he has no political experience and many view his comments on foreign policy and other issues as extreme. A Fox poll showed that twice as many Americans disliked him as liked him.
At CPAC, a gathering of conservative activists, Ramaswamy tied with Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota for choice of Trump’s running mate.
Trump stressed that he has many options, saying that “we have some really great people who want it.” People expressed, I’m not talking about interest, they said, “I would love to be vice president.” »
“Who wouldn’t?” If you’re a politician, who wouldn’t want that?
Donald Trump said he ruled out some possible vice presidential candidates because “I didn’t think he behaved properly.”
Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024
“There’s no one in politics who doesn’t want it, and that includes Democrats. If I wanted it, I’d have a Democrat, I’d have a liberal, I’d have whoever I want,” he said. -he adds.
It appears that Trump is considering several factors in his choice for vice president. Loyalty is the top priority – a trait the former president values above all else.
He is also concerned about the issue of abortion, NBC News reported, because Trump sees it as a major advantage for Democrats and a vulnerability for Republicans. Democrats have successfully used this issue to get their voters – particularly women – to the polls in the 2022 midterm elections.
As for how he will make his decision, Trump told Newsmax: “it’s a formal process that takes place in my brain. It’s like I’m looking at the same people as everyone else.
“But we’re going to choose someone who is really good, really conservative, who likes law and order, low taxes, low interest rates, borders,” he noted.