Former President Donald Trump is taking a unique approach to selecting his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, reminiscent of his days hosting the reality show “The Apprentice.”
This weekend, Trump will parade his top contenders for the vice presidential slot in front of critical donors at an exclusive retreat at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach.
According to Bloomberg Business, Trump has narrowed his list of potential running mates to just four: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.
And there’s a date being floated for Trump’s decision to go public.
The former president has stated that he will make the final announcement “not too much before” the Republican National Convention in July.
“I’ll be picking, but probably not too much before the convention, which I happen to be having in the great state of Wisconsin,” he said at a rally in the state on Wednesday.
The weekend donor retreat promises to have a similar vibe to “The Apprentice,” with contestants vying for Trump’s favor.
The event is expected to draw hundreds of deep-pocketed GOP backers, and political allies eyeing the No. 2 spot on the Republican presidential ticket will be there to try and impress the power brokers.
Trump’s choice of running mate is particularly crucial given his current legal woes, which may require his VP to take on a larger role in campaigning.
The ideal candidate would help broaden Trump’s appeal with independents, women, and minority voters while also assisting in tapping wealthy donors, as Trump’s campaign trails President Joe Biden in fundraising by nearly $100 million.
Scott, Rubio, and Vance all bring valuable experience raising money for Senate campaigns, while Burgum’s background in tech and energy sectors could help attract wealthy donors.
Trump has publicly praised all four candidates recently, despite having a history of trading barbs with Rubio during the 2016 Republican primary.
However, Trump’s senior advisor Brian Hughes cautioned against anyone claiming to know who or when the president will choose his running mate.
Don’t expect a leak anytime soon.
“Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump,” Hughes warned.
In the meantime, the campaign has vetted numerous candidates, but Trump has not yet fully committed his attention to the formal process or held official one-on-one meetings with the VP contenders.
The weekend donor retreat provides Trump with an opportunity to test-run his top tier of candidates, all of whom are slated to attend. Other potential VP candidates, such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York, and Byron Donalds of Florida, are also listed on the event invitation.
The Four Seasons will be locked down for the duration of the event to ensure privacy, and the schedule includes various panels and receptions featuring senators, House members, and big name Republican. Trump himself will speak at a lunch held at his Mar-A-Lago club.
Douglas Heye, a Republican operative, noted that a strategically selected running mate could give Trump the boost he needs to win in what is expected to be a close race in November, particularly if Trump’s legal troubles prevent him from maintaining a robust travel schedule