OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A 2024 Republican candidate for president is calling for former President Donald Trump to drop out of the upcoming presidential race amid the ongoing investigations surrounding him.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson took to Twitter to say Trump is the “target of an ongoing criminal investigation” and that he “should step aside & put the good of the country above his candidacy.”
Hutchinson jumped into the race for the White House in late April.
During an announcement in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, Hutchinson announced that he would be joining the growing field of contenders taking on Trump in the battle for the 2024 GOP nomination.
“Today, I am announcing that I am a candidate for president of the United States,” Hutchinson told supporters. “In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, my record, and leadership. From Congress to the DEA to Homeland Security, I have served our country in times of crisis. As governor of Arkansas, we cut taxes and created record surpluses. We increased pay for teachers. We reduced regulations; recruited industry and the private sector grew by over 100,000 jobs. My mettle has been tested.”
“In this campaign for president, I stand alone in terms of my experience, record, and leadership,” Hutchinson said. “From Congress to DEA to Homeland Security, I have served our country in times of crisis. As governor of Arkansas, we cut taxes and created record surpluses.”
“We have learned that in times of turmoil, uncertainty, and division, America has always benefited from leaders who challenge us and give us hope,” Hutchinson continued. “I am confident that America is ready to seek new frontiers; and that we are ready to channel the restless waves of our democracy into more freedom and more prosperity for those who follow after us.”
The @GOP should clarify that there is no pledge to support a nominee if they are found guilty of espionage or a serious felony.
Donald Trump is the target of an ongoing criminal investigation and he should step aside & put the good of the country above his candidacy.
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) June 8, 2023
New details have emerged this week about who former President Donald Trump may choose to be his potential 2024 running mate. Jennifer Harper, who writes the Inside the Beltway column for the Washington Times, detailed how Trump’s “choice of a running mate will be a crucial factor in his campaign” as he remains the GOP frontrunner.
Several reports have noted that Trump is actually in favor of selecting a female running mate.
The latest to report on Trump’s rumored preferences was the site 1945, which said the former president is likely to “stun the world” with his 2024 VP pick and listed three women thought to be under consideration: Georgia GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Arizona Republican Kari Lake, and South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem.
On Lake, the report states: “Lake certainly looked ascendant last fall when she was competing for Arizona’s governorship. She enjoyed Trump’s endorsement, and she enjoyed favorable coverage in conservative media. It’s not hard to understand why. Lake is a unique creature, spewing the hard right rhetoric that MAGA Nation finds so endearing while doing so with the glitz and polish of a seasoned TV reporter. She was delivering Trump’s message – but she was doing so without the spray tan and the guttural accent and the lack of eloquence. Rather, Lake delivered Trump’s message all pretty-like.”
On Greene, the report said: “Trump loves her and she loves Trump. And impressively, MTG seems to be pivoting into a position of more mainstream acceptance with the GOP (as demonstrated through her support of Kevin McCarthy for speaker). The version of MTG that can appeal to both MAGA and the mainstream is a concerning premise, and someone that Trump has his eye on as a prospective running mate with appeal in the newly-in-play Georgia.”
And on Noem, the report speculates: “The governor of South Dakota is apparently on Trump’s shortlist. Noem said she would be shocked if Trump chose her and I think she means it; she is a long-shot pick. But she’s got a few of the things Trump guns for. One, Noem has been loyal to Trump, vowing to support the former president through the 2024 campaign. And Trump values loyalty above seemingly all else.”
Trump insiders said the 45th president is likely to pick a vice presidential candidate that is “loyal,” has “charisma,” and is “ideologically aligned” with him.
