Trump zeroes in on ‘unxpected’ pick of Afghanistan veteran as 2024 running mate
Yet another Republican U.S. senator has caught the attention of former President Donald Trump as he searches for a ticket companion to replace former Vice President Mike Pence.
The New York Times reported this on Friday that Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has jumped to the top of Trump’s list.
The 47-year-old Republican from Arkansas was elected to the Senate in 2014 after serving tours with the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The choice of Cotton would be unexpected because it would be boring.
Cotton joins other veepstakes candidates from the Senate, including Sens. Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and JD Vance.
Former President Donald Trump (right) is considering choosing Sen. Tom Cotton (left) of Arkansas as his running mate — a choice that would be safe and not rock the boat. Cotton is a 47-year-old Army veteran. The two were pictured together at the White House in August 2017
Former President Donald Trump throws a pen during his Thursday night rally in the Bronx. During an interview after the rally, he declined to name his top three VP picks, which now reportedly includes Cotton
The presumptive Republican nominee is also thinking of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, whom he brought with him to his recent mega-rally in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Trump also discussed five Republican men for Cabinet positions if he were to win a second term in November, The Times report said.
During the day an interview Thursday with News 12 Trump declined to name his top three VP choices.
“Well, we have so many, I don’t want to do that,” the ex-president said after his rally in the Bronx.
Trump then praised Dr. Ben Carson, his former HUD secretary, Rubio, Vance and Rep. Elise Stefanik.
The ex-president said he would announce his choice “sometime during the convention.”
The Republican National Convention is scheduled for mid-July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas would be a safe choice for former President Donald Trump because he has long been considered a GOP newcomer. He is a veteran who served in the U.S. Senate for nearly a decade
Trump also has a number of former 2024 rivals at his disposal.
His main rival, former UN ambassador. Nikki Haley finally said this week that she would vote for Trump in the November election.
Trump supporters interviewed by DailyMail.com in New Jersey welcomed the idea of the ex-president choosing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another top challenger.
DeSantis said months ago that he would not accept the promotion, though he recently began fundraising for Trump.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is also a favorite with the MAGA crowd – and at the age of 38, is said to be bringing the youth to the ticket.
And if Trump wanted a wild-card pick, he could choose the former Democrat-turned-independent. Tulsi Gabbard, who sides with Trump on a number of issues in her new book.
Trump even left the door open to picking South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem — after she wrote in her memoir that she shot her dog and recorded a meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un who had not happened.