Report: Here Are Three Republicans on Trump’s VP ‘Shortlist’

Following former President Donald Trump’s victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, many major Republican voices have begun vying for the vice presidency in another potential Trump presidency. Several insiders say that Trump has narrowed down his list of potential running mates to a short list of three.

The insiders first told Axios that the decision comes down to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and presidential contender Nikki Haley. 

The people closest to Trump say that the reasoning behind each candidate varies, as well as their respective benefits and drawbacks, but they say the former president has reasons to believe that each would be a net plus for his candidacy against President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to the sources, Stefanik has made the list for two reasons, one being her loyalty to Trump in the face of heavy political and legal opposition and the other being her ability to command the news cycle with issues that are favorable to Republicans. 

Stefanik was the first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump and plans to campaign with him in New Hampshire over the final weekend before the state’s primary elections.

“She’s a killer,” President Trump previously told attendees at a Mar-a-Lago event.

Stefanik may be one of Trump’s biggest proponents within the House, but in the Senate, that role is filled by Vance, who has repeatedly defended Trump in a Republican caucus that has otherwise kept him at arm’s length compared to House leadership whose members have all endorsed him. 

Allies say that Vance’s populist views on immigration and foreign policy are a perfect match for the America First agenda of a Trump administration.

While speaking with Newsmax recently, Donald Trump Jr. said, “I’d love to see a J.D. Vance. … People who are principally in alignment as well as aggressive.”

The third potential pick is Haley who is still running in the presidential race and trails Trump by double digits in the latest polls. Insiders believe that Haley, who has primarily garnered votes from the anti-Trump wing of the GOP, could attract moderate and swing voters. However, by attempting to win over the moderate crowd, Haley’s views on foreign policy have ostracized her from Trump’s main base. 

“I would not only not vote for that ticket, I would advocate against it as strongly as I could,” said journalist Tucker Carlson at a recent event. “That’s just poison.” 

Carlson blasted Haley as “not left, but … neoliberal in the darkest, most … nihilistic way,” adding that she “has no real popular support.”

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