With just over five weeks until the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee on July 15, the topic of who Donald Trump will choose as his running mate has become a central topic of conversation on both sides of the political aisle.
As USA TODAY previously reported, the Trump campaign has sent screening papers to potential vice presidential candidates, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. While the field is constantly in flux, the former president is trying to time his announcement to coincide with the Republican National Convention.
“We're going to announce during the convention who that person will be,” Trump said Thursday in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. “I think that's pretty normal. It's going to be an interesting time during the convention.”
Who was Donald Trump's last vice president?
Mike Pence, 65, a former governor of Indiana, served as Donald Trump's vice president from 2017 to 2021. Still, Pence does not support his former boss for another term, arguing that the former president has strayed too far from conservative philosophies.
Prepare to vote: See who's running for president and compare their positions on key issues with our voter guide
Pence also said he would not vote for President Joe Biden, but did not say which candidate he would support in the general election.
Vice President's Review
The selection process for vice presidential candidates varies, but generally involves an extensive background investigation of personal, ethical, and financial information to uncover potential issues or controversies that could damage the candidate's electability. Typically, lawyers, advisors, and donors help presidential candidates determine who is best suited for the position.
Informal lobbying
Before the Trump campaign requested the screening documents, the lower Manhattan courtroom had become the site of auditions for potential running mates. Two potential running mates, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vance, traveled to New York last month to pledge allegiance to the former president.
“Every single person involved in this prosecution is essentially a Democratic political operative,” the Ohio Republican told reporters outside the courthouse.
On May 30, a New York jury found Republican front-runner Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
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A balancing act
The vice president's role during the election could be a missing piece of the puzzle: Who can capture the voting bloc that a presidential candidate might struggle to win over?
Several people familiar with the matter told Reuters the vice presidential considerations are fluid and new names could enter or leave the discussion at any time.
“Anyone who claims to know who President Trump will choose as his vice president or when he will choose him is lying, unless that person is Donald J. Trump,” said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to Trump.
