OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump continues to lead the growing field of GOP presidential contenders, but his closest challenger thus far is the governor of his home state, Ron DeSantis.
Some political observers have said they believe that Trump is on a course to easily capture the 2024 nomination, potentially pitting him in a rematch against President Joe Biden, so the GOP primaries are really about who is going to finish in second place.
For now, it appears that DeSantis will cruise into that No. 2 spot, though a lot could happen between now and the time Republican voters start casting their primary ballots.
As such, it only makes sense to assume that a Trump-DeSantis ticket is at least possible when all the primary dust is settled. But would Trump choose DeSantis?
He was asked that very question on Tuesday, and he responded.
The 45th president told the Todd Starnes Show: “I don’t like saying anything is like, impossible, but it’s pretty unlikely, I would think.”
He went on to suggest that challenging him for the GOP nomination, it may have cost DeSantis any chance at becoming vice president.
“I was very surprised that he did,” Trump said, according to Florida’s Voice. “Without that, it would have been a distinct possibility.”
In the past, Trump has often taken credit for DeSantis’ initial gubernatorial election win, which was by a thin margin in 2018.
“Look, Rob DeSanctimonious came to me asking for help. He was losing badly, by 31 points, to popular Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam,” Trump wrote in a May Truth Social post.
“With 3 LARGE TRUMP RALLIES, he WON THE GENERAL ELECTION in an upset. DISLOYAL!!!”
Meanwhile, DeSantis has been more willing offer some soft criticism of the former president. According to Florida’s Voice, he took a swipe at Trump’s use of nicknames. “I think it’s so petty. I think it’s so juvenile,” DeSantis said.
“I don’t think that’s what voters want, and honestly, I think that his conduct, which he’s been doing for years now, I think that’s one of the reasons he’s not in the White House now,” DeSantis offered.
There is also a constitutional issue to consider regarding a Trump-DeSantis ticket, as noted by the Western Journal:
If Trump wins the Republican nomination and eyes DeSantis as a potential vice presidential pick, there would be an obscure constitutional obstacle.
Electoral College voters from Florida would be barred from voting for a Trump-DeSantis presidential ticket — in the event they were both running as citizens of Florida.
Article II of the Constitution requires electors to vote for one person who is not from their home state, jeopardizing Florida’s Electoral College votes in such a scenario, according to History.
Meanwhile, previous reporting has claimed that Trump is eying a female running mate, and perhaps even one who isn’t necessarily a Republican.
In early May, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld offered a surprise pick: Independent former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard.
“The thing I like about Tulsi is that if she were to give you two opinions, you could not predict a third. She’s a definition of an individual. Like, I disagree with her on probably at least 30%, maybe 40% of things, but the boxes she ticks aren’t the boxes that Kamala ticks,” he said during a segment on “The Five.”
“Her boxes are achievements and ideas. That’s different than skin color and where she was born — not where she was born, but whatever her background is. So, I think that is what makes her so different. I have never seen her angry in my life. And just lastly, I think she’s going to be Trump’s VP. That’s where this is going,” Gutfeld added.
Other names mentioned: Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
