Former President Donald Trump could announce his vice presidential bid as early as this week, possibly ahead of Thursday’s debate, according to four people familiar with the situation.
Trump has made it clear that he intends to announce his choice shortly before or at the Republican convention next month.
However, in recent days, within the framework of the Trump campaign, high-level discussions were held about moving that graph up to jump fasteraccording to these sources, he requested anonymity to speak openly.
Sources also cautioned that the timing was not final and the decision could still be close to the convention.
After this article was published, Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita tweeted: “Yes.. come today …or…or mid-July !!”
Trump will take on President Joe Biden in his first debate in Atlanta on Thursday. He has a rally scheduled for Friday in Virginia.
Planning is less than a month before the Republican National Convention, which begins July 15 in Milwaukee. Four days ago, Trump was due to be sentenced in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to hushed-up payments to cover up a sexual relationship with adult film star Stormi Daniels, who has denied the affair took place.
This gives him a limited window to introduce his running mate to the public.
NBC News againmoved On Friday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida were still high on the list of potential choices.
Trump said this over the weekend he knows who he will choose and that his running mate will participate in a debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta. Rubio, Vance and Burgum are expected to be in town for the discussion.
People familiar with the pre-debate announcement discussions had differing views on Trump’s leanings. One said he was eager to fill his ticket before meeting Biden. Another source said he wants an opportunity to throw a curveball to distract Biden before they meet, but understands such a move could have logistical and political implications.
“There was a definite departure from the announcement earlier last week that the convention was starting,” said a third person familiar with the planning.
Trump’s spokespeople have regularly brushed aside speculation about the timing of the announcement and the identity of Trump’s running mate, and did so again on Tuesday.
“As President Trump himself has said, the primary criteria for selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will be a great president for eight years after the next four-year term expires,” Trump spokesman Brian Hughes said. “But anyone who says they know who or when President Trump will pick his vice president is lying, unless that person’s name is Donald J. Trump.”
Burgum dodged a question from NBC News on Tuesday about whether he planned to speak with Trump before the debate.
“I’m certainly looking forward to the debate,” he said. “We’ll be in Atlanta.”
He ignored a follow-up question this week about whether he had talked to Trump about the job.
Jillian Frankel and Carrie Budoff Brown contributed.