(The Hill) — Former President Donald Trump confirmed a list of names floated to be on his vice presidential shortlist Tuesday, during a town hall event in Greenville, South Carolina.
Trump joined Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham to discuss the upcoming Palmetto State’s primary, which takes place on Feb. 24. Ingraham asked the former president if the rumored names were in fact on his list of potential running mates.
The list includes three former GOP candidates, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. He also confirmed that Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who served in Congress as a Democrat but has since shifted to more conservative views.
Trump confirmed “they are” on his shortlist, but did not provide a timeline for when he will announce his vice presidential pick. He said, “All of those people are good. They’re all solid.”
Trump, who remains the current GOP frontrunner, explained that he would like a running mate who can help him from the “voter’s standpoint” and said he wants someone who has “common sense” on such issues as the border, electric vehicles and high interest rates.
The former president continued, specifically commending Scott, who was in the crowd at the town hall event, for his support.
The South Carolina senator suspended his GOP primary bid in November after failing to earn enough support. He threw his endorsement behind Trump and has been campaigning for the former president in the months since.
“A lot of people are talking about that gentleman right over there,” Trump said when asked about a running mate, pointing to Scott. “And he’s been so great. He’s been such a great advocate.”
“I have to say, this is in a very positive way, Tim Scott, he has been much better for me than he was for himself,” the former president continued. “I watched his campaign and he doesn’t like talking about himself, but boy, does he talk about Trump.”
Trump faces off against the only remaining challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, in the GOP primary on Saturday. He is currently leading Haley 63.8% to 33.1%, according to polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.
