Donald Trump is 'considering a 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence as his running mate - instead mulling a black person or woman on his ticket'
Donald Trump is said to be considering a 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence as his running mate - instead mulling the idea of having a black person or a woman on his ticket.
The ex-president is telling allies he is strongly considering a comeback attempt and is being advised to pick a more diverse vice presidential candidate if he does, according to a report.
Possible names currently being floated include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who defended Trump's legacy in the wake of the Capitol riot, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate.
Pence is already an unlikely running mate after tensions reached a head between the two men in the days following the MAGA mob riot where Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' after the then-president falsely claimed his vice president could stop the certification of the electoral college votes.
Trump teased the possibility of another bid at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend, where he continued to push his false claims he won the last election by saying he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time'.
Donald Trump is said to be considering a 2024 run for the White House without Mike Pence as his running mate - instead mulling the idea of having a black person or a woman on his ticket. Trump at CPAC on Sunday where he teased the possibility of another bid
Three insiders told by Bloomberg Pence will likely not be on Trump's ticket if he does run again in 2024.
Instead, Trump is looking at the people who stood by him in the final days of his presidency as he was impeached for a second time by the House for inciting the Capitol riot, they said.
Two advisers have put forward Noem as a possible contender, the sources said.
This comes just days before Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle will host a fundraiser for the South Dakota governor's reelection campaign at Mar-a-Lago on Friday.
The former president's sprawling Palm Beach estate will play host to several Republican donors and Noem ahead of her 2022 reelection battle, while Trump is also said to be planning to make an appearance.
Noem has herself been touted as a 2024 presidential hopeful.
She has also been a strong Trump ally, supporting his futile attempt to overturn the election result and then refusing to say he was responsible for the Capitol riot that left five dead.
In November, Noem pushed without evidence the former president's claims that the election was 'rigged' when many other Republicans fell silent.
Even after the Capitol riot she continued to back Trump saying he was 'overwhelmingly' good for South Dakota and brushing off whether he incited the riot saying: 'What happened on January 6 was horrible and should never happen again in this country.
The ex-president is telling allies he is strongly considering a comeback attempt and is being advised to pick a more diverse vice presidential candidate if he does, according to a report. Pence in the Senate on January 6 not long before the MAGA mob stormed the building
'What I want to do is look forward and make sure that we continue to have fair and transparent elections that people can trust.'
Meanwhile, Trump also publicly endorsed the party's only black senator for reelection Tuesday, sparking speculation his name could also be in the ring.
'It is my great honor to give Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina my complete and total endorsement,' Trump said in a statement.
'He is both an outstanding senator and person who works tirelessly for the people of his great state, and the USA.
'Strong on the military, law enforcement, loves our vets, protects our Second Amendment and our borders. Tim will continue to do an OUTSTANDING job for our country!'
Scott, a first-term senator who is expected to easily win reelection in South Carolina, also repeatedly defended Trump during his time in office and also worked closely with him on a police reform bill that was blocked by Democrats.
However the senator did urge Trump in September to clarify his comments when he told extremist group the Proud Boys to 'stand back and stand by.'
Possible names currently being floated include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (left), who defended Trump's legacy in the wake of the Capitol riot, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate (right)
Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle (pictured at CPAC) will host a fundraiser for the South Dakota governor's reelection campaign at Mar-a-Lago on Friday
'I think he misspoke. I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak,' Scott said at the time.
Alyssa Farah, a former communications director for Trump, said on Bloomberg Radio's 'Sound On' program Wednesday a female running mate or someone who could appeal to the voters he lost in 2020 would be a good choice if he is planning a 2024 run.
If Trump does decide to run in 2024 it is likely he won't formally announce his running mate until summer 2023, Bloomberg reported.
Trump adviser Jason Miller dismissed the Bloomberg report Wednesday tweeting that the article is 'fake news' and that 'no such conversations are happening'.
It comes just days after Trump suggested another run as he gave his first speech since leaving office at the right-wing political event CPAC on Sunday.
Trump told the crowd his wife Melania would be 'the future first lady' and that he would 'beat' the Democrats for a 'third time' - pushing his false claims that he beat Joe Biden.
'Actually as you know, [the Democrats] just lost the White House, but it's one of those things,' he said.
'But who knows, who knows, I may even decide to beat them for a third time.'
Trump adviser Jason Miller dismissed the Bloomberg report Wednesday tweeting that the article is 'fake news' and that 'no such conversations are happening'
Pence is already an unlikely running mate after tensions reached a head between the two men in the days following the MAGA mob riot. Pictured the two men on November 2 before their relationship soured
Trump falsely claimed his vice president could stop the certification of the electoral college votes in the rally (above) moments before the rioters stormed the Capitol
He added: 'And I want you to know that I'm going to continue to fight right by your side, we will do what we've done right from the beginning, which is win.'
Meanwhile, Pence has retained a low profile in the days since leaving office and turned down an invitation to speak at CPAC.
He said he is opening a transition office and will move back to Indiana in the summer.
Prior to talks of a new running mate, Pence and Trump appeared an unlikely tickets for a 2024 after tensions reached a head between the then-president and his second in command in the wake of the Capitol riot.
Trump stoked fury among his supporters by falsely telling them Pence had the power to stop the certification of Biden's victory.
On January 6, just hours before the MAGA mob stormed the Capitol, Trump tweeted that it was down to Pence to 'come through for us' and overturn the election result.
'States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval,' he tweeted.
'All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!'
'If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency,' he added.
Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence' and hunting for Pence
A noose is seen on makeshift gallows as supporters of Trump stormed the US Capitol
Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress during the riot that left five dead
'Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be). Mike can send it back!'
He continued to falsely claim that Pence simply lacked the 'courage' to overturn the election as he whipped up the crowds at his 'Stop the Steal' rally into a frenzy and urged them 'to fight' just moments before they headed for the Capitol.
'Mike Pence, I hope you get to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country, and if you're not, I'm going to be very disappointed in you,' Trump said at the rally.
Pence in fact did not have the power to do this - something he made clear in both public statements and conversations with Trump at the time.
When the MAGA mob stormed the Capitol, rioters hunted for Pence chanting 'where's Mike Pence' and 'hang Mike Pence.'
Pence, his wife Karen Pence, daughter Charlotte and brother Rep. Greg Pence were forced to take cover in a secret location.
It later emerged that Trump did not check in on his second-in-command during the siege nor did he condemn the threats made against him by his supporters.
The two men did not speak for days afterward and, while Trump shunned Biden's inauguration, Pence abided by tradition and attended the event.
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