Former President Donald Trump says he has already picked a vice president, though he will not say who.
Trump sat with Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum during a live town hall event in Iowa on Wednesday evening. It took place as CNN held a debate between Trump’s Republican primary foes, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
MacCallum questioned Trump on his search for a vice president as rumors about potential picks have swirled in recent weeks.
“I can’t tell you that really, I mean, I know who it’s going to be,” Trump told MacCallum.
“What about any of the people who you’ve run against?” MacCallum pressed. “Would you be open to mending fences with any of them?”
“Oh, sure. I will, I will,” Trump answered. “I’ve already started to like Christie better.”
MacCallum seized on the mention of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who suspended his campaign for president hours before Trump’s town hall. The Fox News host asked if Trump was considering picking Christie for vice president.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
“I don’t see it, I don’t see it,” Trump said. “That would be an upset. Christie for vice president. Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to announce, nah.”
Fox News town hall hosts try to find out who Donald Trump is considering for vice president.
Bret Baier: “You can give us a hint.”
Martha MacCallum: “Would you be open to mending fences?”
Trump jokes, “I’ve already started to like Christie better.” pic.twitter.com/SzNKeztsbs
— The Recount (@therecount) January 11, 2024
A number of politicians, pundits, and others have been floated as potential running mates for Trump, who is favored to win the Republican nomination. Names such as South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. A couple of Trump’s primary opponents have been mentioned, as well – Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy – along with a litany of other names throughout the campaign.
For her part, Haley said in a recent interview with NBC News that she would “maybe” consider picking DeSantis as her VP. “I am going to defeat Donald Trump on my own. That’s the goal that we have. If he wants to join forces with me, I welcome that,” Haley said, referencing the potential of DeSantis joining her to take down the former president.
DeSantis, meanwhile, has not floated any names as his potential vice presidential pick, but he has made clear that he is not interested in running on Trump’s ticket. “I can tell you under any circumstance, I will not accept that, because that’s not why I’m running,” he said in December. “I’m running for the nomination and to be president.”