OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump is said to be considering a running mate who would be seen as highly controversial by his base as the 2024 election cycle progresses.
According to sources who spoke to CBS News, Trump “has been asking allies and advisers for their thoughts about Nikki Haley as a potential vice presidential candidate.” Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina and as his UN ambassador, was the first to declare her candidacy for the GOP nomination after Trump had made his intentions to do so very clear for months.
“The feedback from the MAGA crowd regarding putting Haley on the ticket if Trump wins the GOP nomination has been overwhelmingly negative, according to these GOP sources. Politico first reported that Trump allies are working to quash the possibility of a Trump-Haley ticket,” CBS reported.
The outlet said that a top Trump adviser said that Haley has been rising in the polls in Iowa, where she is running a close third place behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, or perhaps even second place behind Trump.
However, in an interview with conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitt last week, Trump called Haley’s rise in the polls “fake” and insisted he is not worried about her as a challenger.
But one very influential Trump supporter who is vehemently against the idea of him picking Haley as his running mate is former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.
During a live discussion ahead of the Christmas holiday last week hosted by “Timcast” podcaster Tim Pool at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, the host asked Carlson, “Would you vote for Trump if he chose Nikki as VP?”
Carlson, whose name has been mentioned as a potential Trump running mate as well, responded: “I would not only not vote for that ticket, I would advocate against it as strongly as I could.”
“That’s just poison. I mean, here’s someone who’s actively opposed to the interests of the country I grew up in, who endorsed the BLM riots, and who is not left but is neoliberal in the darkest, most – speaking of nihilist – nihilistic way, and has no real popular support, is a creature of the oligarchs,” he continued. “So yeah, that would be– that would be reason to oppose the ticket.
WATCH:
Tucker says he would 'advocate against' Trump election if he picks Haley has his running mate. pic.twitter.com/u2EVgmHXb3
— USA Features Media (@UsaFeatures) December 19, 2023
Earlier in the month, Carlson responded to rumors that Trump was considering him to be his 2024 running mate.
“Well, it’s just– it’s just so unimaginable,” Carlson told SiriusXM and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly. “I mean, I haven’t led a life that prepares a person for politics. As I said, I don’t think I have any like horrible skeletons or anything. It’s not that, it’s just that that’s not how my brain works. I’ve never done anything like that. I can’t imagine spending time with politicians.”
He continued: “I’m a total sucker for Trump. I think he’s – you know, personally, I get along with Trump really well. The closer I am physically to Trump, like if I’m with him in the room, I always love Trump and I think it’s impossible not to, and you know the experience. He’s just charming.”
“Yeah,” replied Kelly.
“And he’s funny as hell, and he’s brave in his way, I think. So I really appreciate that, and I agree fundamentally with his views,” Carlson continued. “You know, maybe fewer wars, maybe have a border, like those are not crazy things, and I support them, and I’m appalled and terrified by the use of the DOJ to rig an election, which is what’s happening now, so all those factors make me kind of psyched to vote for Trump.
“But serving in politics with anybody, I mean, that’s just– that’s a– it’s a lot for me to think about because I just don’t think I’m really suited for that. Would anyone want to see a guy like me run for office?” Carlson asked.
“Yes!” Kelly exclaimed before concluding, “You’re not gonna end your life without having been probably president, maybe vice president.”
