Trump set to announce VP candidate next week — and here are the front-runners
Donald Trump’s final decision on his 2024 running mate is between North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), insiders tell The Post.
Barring a last-minute surprise, the sources say, the 67-year-old Burgum and the 39-year-old Vance are the clear front-runners for the GOP’s VP slot, with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) still having an outside shot.
Other rumored options, such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, were dismissed as having little chance of being picked — with one source going so far as to say there was “no way” Trump, 78, would tap Carson.
“It would honestly make no sense,” one source said.
Burgum and Vance have long been rumored to be atop the list of contenders to be Trump’s No. 2, but the 45th president and his campaign have been careful not to tip their hand.
Trump 2024 senior adviser Jason Miller told Fox News Monday that the choice would be announced “by this time next Monday,” the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
One source close to Trump gave a slight edge to Burgum being the 45th president’s running mate, saying the North Dakotan had a 50-50 chance of being selected and Vance had a 30% chance, with Rubio and the field each having a 10% percent chance.
A different source close to the Trump campaign said the choice was “gonna be JD, Marco or Burgum” and that they didn’t “see a scenario where one of those three doesn’t end up getting it.”
“I would give Burgum and JD a little more of an edge than Marco,” the source added, handicapping that “Marco still has a shot” and that “Burgum and JD have an equal shot.”
A GOP strategist also placed their bets on Burgum and Vance.
“JD because that’s who Don Jr. and Trump’s inner orbit seem to be pushing for,” this person said. “Donors [are] pushing Burgum for stability.”
Trump typically relishes keeping the public and even aides guessing about staffing decisions and the current selection process was widely expected to be rife with false leaks to stoke speculation and intrigue, mirroring the last-minute antics surrounding his 2016 selection of then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
There are clues pointing to each of the three of the top candidates getting the nod in the next week. Rubio is reportedly scheduled to be at Trump’s Doral, Fla., rally on Tuesday night and changed his schedule at the last minute to ensure he would make it.
Trump is having another rally in western Pennsylvania on Saturday, potentially giving him a prime opportunity to announce Vance, who reps neighboring Ohio, as his choice.
However, the presumptive GOP nominee could make the announcement wherever — and however — he chooses, whether at a nighttime campaign event or in a morning post on Truth Social.
“Who, when, and where will be decided by President Trump,” campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told The Post Monday.
All three main candidates for the VP slot have been strong supporters of Trump throughout his re-election campaign and took part in the post-debate spin room activities at the June 27 CNN showdown in Atlanta.
Spokespeople for Burgum, Vance and Rubio did not respond to inquiries from The Post.
