OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Popular SiriusXM podcast host Megyn Kelly thinks she has identified a new potential running mate on former President Donald Trump’s shortlist: Freshman Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama.
On Thursday, Kelly played a video clip of an interview Trump did with Newsmax TV’s Greg Kelly in which the former president said he had removed “some people” who he “didn’t think behaved properly” out of consideration.
“Does ‘they didn’t behave appropriately,’ do you think — we’re trying to get into his mind — mean somebody who attacked him?” Kelly asked. “Because I think, I think he would have used a different word. You know, ‘They turned out to be losers.’ You know, I think he would have been stronger in his condemnation, and he might have even named them if they had actually slammed him.”
“Ruthless” podcast co-host Michael Duncan offered that Trump “doesn’t like desperation” before suggesting that the 45th president could have ruled “some people” out because he felt they “are a little too thirsty” for the position.
Kelly speculated that Britt, who delivered the GOP rebuttal to President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address, could potentially be considered a “dark horse” candidate for Trump’s running mate. Nevertheless, according to the Daily Caller, the conservative commentator suggested that Trump might have been dissatisfied or embarrassed by Britt’s performance.
“I have my own theory,” she continued. “My theory is it could be a reference to a rising star in the Republican Party who had such heat and buzz around them that they were asked to deliver the response to the State of the Union — and then bombed.”
Kelly went on to say that the “worst sin is to embarrass” Trump, adding that he “has an eye for television.” The former Fox News star then said that she was sure Trump “made more from Celebrity Apprentice and The Apprentice than he made in his real estate empire.”
I thought Katie Britt’s speech last night was a very strong contrast to Joe Biden and exactly what the GOP needed.
Watch the full speech here and judge for yourself!https://t.co/q4vNW5nQ0j
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) March 9, 2024
She then suggested that Britt’s GOP rebuttal, which received harsh criticism online from conservatives as well, may have soured Trump on her.
“Okay. Zero chance he didn’t realize what a train wreck that was,” Kelly said of the Alabama senator’s Republican rebuttal. “He praised her at a rally over the weekend like a classy guy. Um, but there’s zero chance he didn’t see what the rest of us saw. So what do you think of my theory?”
“Uh, I just don’t know that she’s really a short list for that discussion. Right?” Ruthless co-host Josh Holmes responded.
“She’s a dark horse,” Kelly said. “Dark horse, Holmes.”
Previously, Kelly criticized Britt’s speech as “totally cringe,” attributing it to the senator’s “over-the-top emotions.” Kelly likened Britt’s delivery to that of a Lifetime movie, condemning her perceived lack of authenticity as the reason why the rebuttal “embarrassed the Republicans.”
South Dakota GOP Gov. Kristi Noem, who is also rumored to be on the shortlist for vice president, met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in late February.
“A new Kaplan Strategies Wisconsin poll released on February 23 shows Noem is the preferred pick to be Trump’s running mate. Trump has reportedly been considering Noem and a list of others to be his running mate. According to that poll, Noem had the highest favorability rating, with 39 percent of voters saying they have a very or somewhat favorable view of her,” the Daily Caller reported at the time.
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second, with 28 percent of the vote, ahead of Vivek Ramaswamy, a contender for president in 2024.
In their straw poll, Noem and Ramaswamy shared the most votes (15 percent) during the annual Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) summit.
Following her with 8 percent was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, was in third place with 9 percent.
