The Republican party has eagerly anticipated the announcement of former President Donald Trump’s choice for vice president, and a new candidate has emerged. Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who was not mentioned in a previous report as one of the individuals undergoing vetting, has now been confirmed as one of the candidates who received paperwork, according to a recent article in The Washington Post.
“The two men fostered a close relationship during their time in Washington. They worked closely on immigration issues and shared an affinity for the conservative populism fueling the Republican Party,” the report from The Post said. “Cotton’s presence on a presidential ticket could help reassure Republicans in the party’s dwindling traditional wing, particularly fellow foreign-policy hawks. Many of these Republicans remain undecided about a second term for Mr. Trump and might be put off by the selection of an inexperienced MAGA loyalist.”
“Senator Cotton stands out among the other candidates as a battle-tested, serious-minded lawmaker with exceptional fundraising skills,” a Trump source said to The Daily Wire. “He’s a fighter that would round out the ticket in a way that is most likely to secure a victory in November.”
Multiple news outlets have reported that Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), along with Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), have received the forms. Additionally, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson have also been included in this process. According to NBC News, the focus seems to be primarily on four top prospects, namely Burgum, Rubio, Scott, and Vance.
Interestingly, the absence of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R), Arizona U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) as potential candidates has been noticeably highlighted in various prominent reports. These reports, which rely on sources familiar with Trump’s campaign, indicate that these individuals were not considered for vetting. However, it is important to note that the selection process remains dynamic, as mentioned by an insider to the Associated Press.
“Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump,” Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes said.
In the meantime, Trump has reaffirmed his belief in winning a traditionally Democratic state through a video shared on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday. Despite current polling indicating otherwise, Trump, a native of Queens, New York, remains confident in securing victory in his home state.
“I believe that with your support, we can win the state of New York and I’m looking to win it as your presidential nominee. We are going to win New York – remember those words. I hope I’m gonna be correct. If I am, the election is over,” he said. ‘
“There’s tremendous discontent in New York with hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants taking over your schools and your playgrounds, and the crime that’s happening in the city of New York and the state of New York. The lack of supervision, the lack of control, the lack of leadership, terrible things are happening in New York. I think we can win it,” he added.
“And again, we’re gonna make a big play for New York, presidentially,” Trump reiterated. “And so get out and join us. It’s gonna be one of the greatest wins, I think, in the history of the state. There’s no question about it, and I do believe we can do it.”
