Donald Trump speaks at the CPAC in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 28.
Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage / Bloomberg
Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage / Bloomberg
Donald Trump is telling allies that he is firmly considering another presidential candidacy in 2024, and upcoming councilors want him to choose someone other than former Vice President Mike Pence for his ticket, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Trump publicly joked at Sunday’s Conservative Political Action Conference that he is raising another presidential candidacy. In private, he has discussed alternatives to Pence while taking stock of who he believes was with him at the end of his term and who is not, according to two of the people.
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They requested anonymity because the conversations have been private.
Trump advisers have debated identifying a black or female running mate for his next career, and three of those familiar with the matter said Pence would probably not participate.
Two advisers have suggested Trump consider South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, according to people. Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, are hosting a fundraiser for Noem on Friday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and at his home in Palm Beach. The former president plans to make an appearance, according to people familiar with the matter.
And on Tuesday, Trump issued a public endorsement for the re-election of Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Scott is the only black Republican in the United States Senate.
Pence rejected his boss’s appeals to unilaterally overturn Trump’s re-election defeat when he chaired the Congressional Electoral Count’s vote count on Jan. 6. vice president and members of Congress to flee. Five people died in the melee.
Mike Pence and Karen Pence arrive at the inauguration of Joe Biden in Washington, DC, on January 20th.
Photographer: Kevin Dietsch / UPI / Bloomberg
The two men did not speak for days afterwards. Pence has not said whether he would be interested in running again with Trump, according to a person familiar with the situation, who believes it is doubtful that Pence will.
Trump adviser Jason Miller said “no such talks are taking place” about the election of someone other than Pence if he runs again and that the former president “has not taken no decision on a potential candidacy for 2024 “. A Pence spokesman did not comment immediately.
In the Trump camp, there has not yet been any serious consideration about future vice presidential candidates, according to people familiar with the matter. If he runs, Trump probably won’t make a formal announcement until the summer of 2023, they said.
At a rally in front of the White House ahead of the deadly Jan. 6 riot, Trump said he would win the 2020 election if Pence did “the right thing,” and rejected Electoral College votes by Joe Biden of several states. where the former president had alleged, without evidence, that widespread fraud had cost him the victory.
After Pence rejected, Trump has tweeted that his vice president “did not have the courage to do what should be done to protect our country and our Constitution.” At the time, crowds were swarming the Capitol, with some insurgents singing “hang Mike Pence,” while the Secret Service cheered the vice president on security.
Although Trump did not formally announce his candidacy for the CPAC on Sunday, his first public appearance since leaving office on Jan. 20 hinted at another candidacy. Trump blasted the successes of his term in the White House, reiterated his false claim to winning the 2020 election and added, “Who knows? I may even decide to win them a third time.”
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The former president’s public reflection on another career may be effectively freeze the 2024 Republican presidential camp, as many other prominent Republican Party candidates are likely to await the former president’s decision before announcing their own campaigns.
Trump is building a political structure that would serve as the basis for the campaign should he decide to run again, including an existing political action committee, Save America, which accepts donations. Until $ 5,000 per person. A new super PAC, which would accept unlimited donations, is also planned.
Pence was invited to speak at the CPAC, but informed organizers weeks before the event that he and his family had decided to keep a low profile during the first half of the year. He has said it will open a transition office and plans to return to Indiana this summer.
The former vice president is considered a potential top candidate in 2024. A Harvard-Harris poll conducted on February 23-25 found that 42% of Republican voters preferred Trump as the 2024 candidate, compared to 18% of Pence, who came in second.
Without Trump, Pence led the field with the support of 36% of Republican voters, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 13%.
(Updates with Advisor Trump’s comment on the ninth paragraph.)