Title: Gov. Ron DeSantis Rejects VP Role, Trump’s Camp Dismisses the Idea
Date: [Current Date]
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made it clear on Tuesday that he would not be interested in running as former President Donald J. Trump’s vice president if Trump wins the 2024 Republican nomination.
During an appearance on the Wisconsin Right Now podcast, when asked about potentially being the No. 2 guy, DeSantis confidently responded, “I’m not a No. 2 guy. I think I’m a leader. Governor of Florida, I’ve been able to accomplish a lot. I think I probably could do more staying there than being V.P., which doesn’t really have any authority.”
Reacting swiftly to DeSantis’ remarks, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, Steven Cheung, dismissed the idea entirely. Cheung stated, “Ron DeSantis isn’t anybody’s guy. He’s not ‘the guy.’ He’s just ‘a guy.’ Ron is just there, sullen and sad because his numbers are as tiny as him.”
Despite the early stage of the vice-presidential speculation, some voters and political observers have pondered the idea of DeSantis running on the same ticket as Trump. At events for DeSantis in early nominating states, voters expressed their support for the idea of a Trump-DeSantis joint ticket.
However, a logistical challenge arises from both individuals being Florida residents. The 12th Amendment to the Constitution prevents members of the Electoral College from voting for a president and vice-president from their own state. Therefore, if Trump were to choose DeSantis or any other Florida resident as his running mate, they would forfeit the state’s 30 electoral votes. One potential solution could be for Trump to change his residency back to New York, where he previously resided before the 2020 election.
As for potential vice-presidential candidates for Trump, if he were to secure the nomination, it remains unclear who might be willing to join his ticket. Former Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who previously served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has expressed admiration for Trump, and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina are among the possibilities.
When asked about the prospect of becoming Trump’s running mate, Senator Tim Scott responded, “You get in the race for president to win, only to win.” Scott’s statement suggests that he is focused on pursuing the presidency rather than accepting a vice-presidential role.
Numerous politicians who have publicly criticized Trump during their campaigns are unlikely to express any interest in joining his ticket, given the contentious history. Vice President Mike Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president, stated that running for vice president twice is enough for any American.
For now, it is improbable that a major presidential contender would publicly downgrade their aspirations to become a running mate. Campaign advisors for Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy expressed that their candidates have no intention of filling the VP slot. The campaigns of Nikki Haley and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
As the 2024 race continues to unfold, the vice-presidential sweepstakes are merely in their early stages. Speculation and discussions surrounding potential running mates remain ongoing, especially with Trump’s unconventional approach to selecting a vice president.