Former President Donald Trump continues to lead the increasing field of Republican presidential candidates, but the governor of his home state, Ron DeSantis, is currently his closest challenger.
According to some political observers, Trump is on track to easily win the 2024 nomination, setting up a potential rematch with President Joe Biden; therefore, the GOP primaries are really about who will finish second.
Although anything could happen between now and the time Republican primary voters submit their ballots, it appears that DeSantis will secure the No. 2 position.
Consequently, it is reasonable to presume that a Trump-DeSantis ticket is at least a possibility once the primary dust settles. However, would Trump select DeSantis?
Tuesday, he was asked this query and he responded.
The 45th president stated on the Todd Starnes Show, “I don’t want to say anything is impossible, but it seems unlikely.”
He went on to imply that DeSantis’s chances of becoming vice president may have been jeopardized by his challenge for the GOP nomination.
“I was very surprised that he did,” Trump said, according to Florida’s Voice. “Without that, it would have been a distinct possibility.”
President Trump tells Todd Starnes Show it is highly unlikely that he will pick DeSantis as his running mate.
“I don’t like saying anything is like, impossible, but it’s pretty unlikely I would think,” Trump said.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) June 5, 2023
In the past, Trump has frequently claimed credit for DeSantis’ 2018 initial narrow victory in the governor’s race.
“Look, Rob DeSanctimonious came to me asking for help. He was losing badly, by 31 points, to popular Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam,” Trump wrote in a May Truth Social post.
“With 3 LARGE TRUMP RALLIES, he WON THE GENERAL ELECTION in an upset. DISLOYAL!!!”
In the meantime, DeSantis has been more receptive to offering gentle criticism of the former president. According to the Florida Voice, he criticized Trump’s use of nicknames. “I find it so trivial. I believe it to be so immature,” DeSantis said.
“I don’t think that’s what voters want, and honestly, I think that his conduct, which he’s been doing for years now, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s not in the White House now,” DeSantis offered.
According to the Western Journal, there is also a constitutional issue to ponder regarding a Trump-DeSantis ticket:
If Trump obtains the Republican nomination and considers DeSantis for vice president, there would be a constitutional obstacle.
Electoral College electors from Florida would not be permitted to vote for a Trump-DeSantis presidential ticket if both candidates were Floridians.
According to History, Article II of the Constitution requires electors to vote for one individual who is not from their home state, putting Florida’s Electoral College votes at risk.
In the meantime, prior reports have suggested that Trump is considering a female running colleague, and possibly one who is not necessarily a Republican.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
In early May, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld offered a surprise pick: Independent former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. CONTINUE READING…
