Donald Trump, 77, is leaning toward picking a woman as his running mate in 2024 – but says he doesn’t think it will make much of a ‘difference’ who he asks to run with him as vice president.
The ex-President said he is considering South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, 51, as a running mate.
‘I like not to think too much about that. You always do a little bit – but I really don’t think it’s time. I want to win,’ Trump told NBC News’ new Meet the Press host Kristen Welker.
‘And, you know, it’s very interesting about running mates – when you get down to a vice president – they say nobody’s ever made that kind of a difference. It’s still about the person that’s going to be president. It’s an important decision.’
Noem, a rising Republican star, has been involved in a clandestine affair for years with Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in a Friday report.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem issued her endorsement of Donald Trump’s White House bid during a rally in her state on September 8
The married South Dakota governor often stresses her belief in ‘family values’ – but began an affair with Lewandowski, who is also married, in 2019, if not before, multiple sources told DailyMail.com.
News of the relationship threatens to wreck Noem’s chances of joining Trump’s ticket in a potential rematch with President Joe Biden.
Reports suggest Trump has a short list of women that he could pick as vice president, including Noem and failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. Those within Trump’s circle think his former UN Ambassador and now 2024 rival Nikki Haley would be the best fit – or maybe his former White House Press Secretary and now Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Welker noted that Haley’s name hasn’t been floated as much recently since she has become more openly critical of Trump since launching her 2024 primary bid for president against him.
When Welker asked Trump if he’s considering a female running mate, he said: ‘I like the concept, yes.’
‘But, we’re going to pick the best person,’ Trump added, keeping the door open to a possibility of a male vice presidential candidate.
The NBC News anchor noted that 2024 hopeful Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is a potential running mate. He is the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate.
Gov. Noem endorsed Trump’s third bid for the White House during a rally in her state earlier this month.
‘I think she’s fantastic, she’s been a great governor,’ Trump said, telling Welker ‘I do,’ when asked if he has his eye on her as a potential running mate should he win the 2024 nomination.
Noem’s chances of joining Trump on the 2024 ticket might be threatened after DailyMail.com revealed that the married South Dakota governor and ex-Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski, also married, have been engaging in a years-long affair. The two are pictured above in Ohio in 2020
‘She gave me a very full-throated endorsement – a beautiful endorsement, actually,’ the former President said.
‘And, you know, it’s been a very good state for me,’ he added of Noem’s state of South Dakota.
Trump added that he would ‘certainly’ consider Noem, but said even if she isn’t on the ticket as vice president, he could also place her somewhere else in his administration should he earn a second, non-consecutive term in the White House.
‘We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party,’ Trump noted.
With age becoming a major focus of the 2024 race, especially among younger voters, it’s likely Trump could pick someone a few decades his junior to run alongside him.
Noem is 26-years Trump’s junior.