OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former President Donald Trump is far ahead of the rest of the 2024 GOP primary field, but the nomination is still far enough away that there isn’t much point to naming a running mate.
That said, Trump has certainly toyed with a few names, and one of them he mentioned favorably most recently happens to be one of those 2024 rivals: Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
“Well, I think he’s great. Look, anybody that said I’m the best president in a generation … I have to like a guy like that,” Trump told Glenn Beck in a call-in interview on Blaze TV, in reference to comments Ramaswamy made during the first GOP primary debate last week.
“He’s a smart guy. He’s a young guy. He’s got a lot of talent. He’s a very, very, very intelligent person,” Trump continued, The Hill reported. “He’s got good energy, and he could be in some form of something. I tell ya, I think he’d be very good. I think he’s really distinguished himself.”
He went on to say that the entrepreneur has become “a little bit controversial” as he has gained more notoriety.
According to RealClearPolitics’ average of polls, Ramaswamy has risen to third place behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Then again, after she heartily endorsed him earlier this month, Trump has indicated his strong affinity for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
“I think she’s fantastic,” Trump said in an interview. “She’s been a great governor. She gave me a very full-throated endorsement, a beautiful endorsement, actually. It’s been a very good state for me, and certainly, she would be one of the people I would consider or for something else, maybe. We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party.”
Earlier, Trump said he likes “the concept” of selecting a woman as his running mate but that he’s not wedded to the idea, per se, and is instead looking for “the right person.”
“You always do a little bit, but I really don’t think it’s time,” Trump said, per the Washington Examiner. “I want to win, and, you know, it’s very interesting about running mates, when you get down to a vice president, they said, ‘Nobody has ever made that kind of a difference.’ It’s still about the person that’s going to be president.”
In an interview with Fox News, Noem explained why she chose to sit out the 2024 GOP presidential race after analysts expected her to jump in, noting that the contest is essentially Trump’s to lose at this point.
“The fact is, none of them can win as long as Trump’s in the race. And that’s just the facts. So why run if you can’t win?” she told “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday.
“I’ve probably run 10 statewide races. I’ve won them all. I’ve never lost. If I get into a race, I’m gonna win. So that’s just how we do it. And President Trump did some great things for our state and for our country. As governor — and everybody should be grateful for this — he let me do my job. When he was president, he let me do my job, and I appreciate that,” Noem added. “Biden doesn’t do that.”
In a nod to the crowded GOP presidential field, she noted that several candidates are either Republican governors or former governors, joking that it seems as though “almost all of them” are running.
When questioned about her potential endorsement ahead of Trump’s September visit to the state, Noem initially spoke about the anticipation building in her state in anticipation of his rally. She pointed out that tickets for the event were completely sold out on the first day.
“He is inspirational. People always show up to hear something interesting,” Noem said. “And yeah, you’ll hear something from me, too.”
