Trump decides his running mate, but doesn’t say who

By Noah Berkowitz

Former President Donald Trump told NBC News  that he’s chosen his Vice Presidential running mate. The Republican nominee was at a campaign stop in Philadelphia, when he said “nobody knows” who it is. This includes the person themselves. 

Trump added on, saying that the pick will “most likely” be at the first presidential debate against Joe Biden in Atlanta on Thursday. The selection process has become more serious in recent weeks, with multiple candidates receiving vetting materials from the Trump campaign. Sources familiar with the process told The Hill that the four frontrunners for the position are North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson. 

CNN’s Katlin Collins questioned Burgum on Sunday on what the governor would bring to the table if he was chosen as Trump’s running mate. Burgum then sidestepped the question, saying “President Trump could win this race regardless of who his Vice President is. He’s got the luxury of not having to pick someone.” 

There are still other outside candidates who could win the VP sweepstakes, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. As U.N. ambassador under Trump, Haley was his final opponent in the GOP Primary before eventually dropping out of the race. 

When asked if he would be open to the possibility of having Haley as his VP, Trump responding that he “was very disappointed in her because she stayed too long.” 

While Haley has been seen as the moderate alternative to Trump, she ultimately endorsed the former president. Having the former Governor as Vice President could lure moderate Republicans who voted for her in the primaries. 

Despite the growing interest in who will partner Trump on the Republican ticket, the former President himself told Fox News earlier this year that “It’s never really had that much of an effect on an election.”