Former President Donald Trump says he has made up his mind about who he will choose as his running mate, but has not yet communicated his decision to Republicans vying for the post.
When asked by a reporter on Saturday if he had already chosen his running mate, Trump said, “In my heart, yes.” Asked if anyone knew his choice, he said, “No, nobody knows.”
According to an NBC News reporter, during a stop at a Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant on Saturday, Trump said that his running mate will participate in next Thursday's presidential debate in Atlanta.
Many of the leading contenders for the vice presidential spot are expected to attend a viewing party hosted by the Trump campaign, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee had previously said he would announce his candidacy at or shortly before the Republican National Convention, which begins in Milwaukee on July 15.
However, President Trump may decide to bring the announcement forward to divert attention from reports about his July 11 sentencing on 34 felony counts in a New York hush-money case.
The campaign is ramping up preparations for what will happen once Trump's running mate is selected, renting private jets for the nominee between July and November, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The choice will be a crucial one for the former president, who is seeking to expand his electoral coalition with opinion polls showing voters are disappointed with both candidates.
Trump broke with former Vice President Mike Pence after the latter said he did not have the constitutional authority to block the certification of Trump's loss to Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden and his predecessor have secured the number of delegates needed to be nominated as the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively, making it all but certain they will face off on November 5 in a rematch of the 2020 presidential election.
Biden, 81, is running against Vice President Kamala Harris, who, like Biden, is struggling with low approval ratings. Trump, 78, has sparked months of speculation about who he might choose as his running mate.
