President Donald Trump (R) has shared the long-awaited shortlist for his Vice Presidential pick. This is the first time that President Trump acknowledges who he's considering as he ventures towards the Republican nomination.
During a town hall meeting this week in South Carolina, President Trump shared a list of names of individuals he is considering for Vice President. Many names have been rumored to be on the list, but nothing had been confirmed until now. The Republican frontrunner is not only looking to Florida for his VP pick, but his considerations might also surprise voters.
Vice President Mike Pence (R) is noticeably left off the list after both had a falling out as a result of the 2020 election. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), who had a vicious rivalry with President Trump dating back to the 2022 midterm election, made the list.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R), South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R), Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R), and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (I).
President Trump confirmed the shortlist with FOX News' Laura Ingraham, who hosted the town hall, and he went on to praise the names shared. "Honestly, all of those people are good. They're all good. They're all solid," he said.
Governor DeSantis' name could be a surprise given the contentious relationship both have shared since the 2022 midterm election. However, shortly after dropping out of the presidential race, Governor DeSantis endorsed President Trump, assuring voters that he was a better choice than Ambassador Nikki Haley (R).
Rep. Gabbard is another name that might surprise voters given her legislative history.
Having served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016, she resigned to endorse Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I) in the 2016 presidential election. In the 2020 election, she endorsed President Joe Biden (D). Since leaving the House and changing her party affiliation to Independent, she has grown heavily critical of the Democratic Party.
