Trump Talks VP Selection Criteria Ahead of GOP Convention: ‘Sophisticated Version of The Apprentice’
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Former President Donald Trump equated finding a running mate ahead of his expected nomination at the Republican National Convention next week to a “sophisticated” version of his former reality TV show The Apprentice.
On the long-running former NBC show, Trump began each season with a slew of candidates who each sought to go into business with him. Those who did not make it to the end were often crudely cut from the show – birthing Trump’s infamous slogan, “You’re fired.”
On Friday’s edition of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, the former president explained via telephone how the selection process is playing out as he expects to face President Joe Biden for the second time in a general election on Nov. 5.
While discussing a running mate, he implied he wished to delay the announcement while much of the media’s attention remains on Biden, who has been much maligned for his poor debate performance against Trump in Georgia two weeks ago.
“I’d love to do it during the convention, which would be you know, or just slightly before the convention, like Monday,” Trump said in a reference to naming a running mate. “Love to do it on Tuesday or Wednesday, actually, but for a lot of complex reasons that you people understand, pretty much don’t do that.”
“It’s like a highly sophisticated version of The Apprentice.” President Trump tells @ClayTravis and @BuckSexton that he’s still deciding between 4 or 5 VP choices.
Listen at Noon ET —> https://t.co/y1FOlb8Q4p pic.twitter.com/IrOb1gE3ai
— The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show (@clayandbuck) July 12, 2024
Trump said he was evaluating up to five people who were part of what he called the GOP’s “very good bench.”
Pressed on how he is deciding who his running mate and potentially a future president might be, Trump said of the process, “It’s like a highly sophisticated version of The Apprentice.”
Trump praised his list of potential running mates as “fantastic” and concluded he would ultimately make a decision on one of them based on “instinct.”
As NBC News reported last month, Trump’s short list of vice presidential candidates under consideration includes Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and JD Vance of Ohio, as well as Republican North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Trump praised each of them during Friday’s interview and also complimented Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
The GOP convention will kick off in Milwaukee on Monday evening and conclude on Thursday evening presumably with Trump as his party’s nominee for a third consecutive election.
Watch above via the The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show.
