Former President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said Thursday he “would love to see” Tucker Carlson be the former president’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election—though he had some positive things to say about one or two other potential VP picks.
While Mr. Trump Jr. noted it’s not his choice to make—and the former president still needs to formally secure the Republican nomination for it to be his choice—the president’s son told Newsmax on Jan. 18 that a Trump-Carlson 2024 ticket “would certainly be a contender.”
“I would love to see that happen,” he said, adding that he thinks President Trump and Mr. Carlson are in agreement on “virtually all” of the key issues, including “stopping the never-ending war.”
Since President Trump’s historic win in the Iowa caucuses, the guessing game has heated up around who he’ll select to be his running mate on the Republican ticket—provided he wins the nomination.
‘People Are Talking About Trump VP Picks’
The prospect that it will be President Trump’s choice to make seems increasingly likely, however, as not only did he handily trounce his rivals in Iowa, his lead in the Republican primary polls has widened further.
“People are talking about Trump VP picks because they recognize the primary is over and has been for quite some time,” Jason Meister, a New York-based adviser to the former president, told The Epoch Times in a recent interview. “Trump is polling stronger than he did in 2016 and 2020. He’s surging with blacks, independents, and younger Americans.”
With 63.1 percent support, President Trump now maintains a commanding 53.1-point lead over his nearest rival in the primary, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who’s polling at 11.8 percent, according to the latest RealClear polling average.
The Iowa win seems to have given the former president some lift nationally, with President Trump now polling 1.5 points ahead of President Joe Biden, according to the latest RealClear polling average in that hypothetical matchup.
A number of names have been floated as a possible Trump running mate, with the former president saying recently he’s already made up his mind but is keeping the identity under wraps—for now.
His son, Mr. Trump Jr., was asked by Newsmax anchor Rob Finnerty on Thursday whether rumors that President Trump is considering Mr. Carlson to be his VP pick are “serious.”
“That clearly would be on the table,” Mr. Trump Jr. confirmed, adding that they’re “very friendly” on a personal level and see eye-to-eye on most things in terms of policy.
Mr. Trump Jr. also said he wouldn’t rule out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s polling in third place in the GOP primaries with 10.3 percent support.
Calling Mr. DeSantis a “leading contender” who’s “in alignment” and a “fighter,” Mr. Trump Jr. also spoke favorably of Ben Carson, who served as President Trump’s housing secretary, as well as Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).
The only person Mr. Trump Jr. said he wouldn’t want to see as his father’s VP is his closest rival in the primaries—Ms. Haley.
‘I Know Who It’s Going to Be’
As VP speculation began to intensify at the end of last year, President Trump said in November that he “would consider” Mr. Carlson as his running mate.
“I like Tucker a lot. I guess I would consider him. He’s got great common sense,” the former president said in an interview on The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.
For his part, Mr. Carlson said in a speech at the American Principles Project (APP) gala in December that “God would have to yell at me very loud” to join the ticket as VP with President Trump.
When later pressed by a member of the audience about the matter, Mr. Carlson said, “I have no interest in that.”
Meanwhile, President Trump said at a town hall in Iowa at the beginning of January that he’s made up his mind about a running mate.
When he was asked about who’s in contention for the job, President Trump replied: “Well, I can’t tell you that, really.”
“I mean, I know who it’s going to be,” he added.
Asked to “give us a hint,” President Trump declined, saying, “We’ll do another show sometime” about the matter.
The former president, who’s the frontrunner by far for the Republican nomination, was asked if he’d be willing to consider any of those running against him in the primary and “mend fences” with those from whom he’s faced sharp criticism.
“Oh sure, I will, I will,” President Trump replied, suggesting he wouldn’t hold grudges.
More VP Chatter
To date, over 40 names have speculatively surfaced as a possible Trump running mate.
President Trump said in September that he liked the idea of a woman serving as his vice president if elected to the Oval Office in 2024, though he was quick to note that it’s a bad idea to make gender a decisive factor.
“Are you leaning toward a woman?” NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker asked President Trump in a mid-September interview.
“I like the concept, but we’re going to pick the best person,” President Trump replied. “But I do like the concept, yes.”
Rumors have long swirled that President Trump was considering a woman as his running mate in order to court the female suburban vote that some strategists believe would be key to beating President Joe Biden.
Media speculation has pointed to former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Trump White House press secretary and current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
In the interview on “Meet the Press,” President Trump was asked about Ms. Noem as a possible pick, with the former president saying she‘d be “fantastic” and saying he’d consider her for VP.
“She’s been a great governor,” President Trump said, adding that Ms. Noem gave him a “beautiful endorsement” during a recent rally in her state.
There’s been speculation about other potential VP picks, including tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy after President Trump indicated that he was open to the idea of having him as a potential running mate.
Mr. Ramaswamy dropped out of the GOP primary race after President Trump’s crushing win in the Iowa caucus and has endorsed the former president.
At the same time, he’s said in the past that he didn’t see himself in the role of VP.
Whoever it ends up being, experts say an optimal VP pick is someone who wouldn’t upstage the top of the ticket, so it should be someone who isn’t too charismatic and is content to play second fiddle.
Janice Hisle contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times
