When it comes to 2024, everyone has their eye on Donald Trump, as he’s undoubtedly the most controversial, as well as a big hitter in the Republican Party’s chances for retaking the White House. And that means, given Trump’s ongoing popularity, and the likelihood of winning the nomination, everyone is also talking about his options for a running mate.
So who will Trump choose as his VP?
Well, at this point, it’s way too early to say anything for sure. After all, we have more than a full year until the general election and more than half of that before primaries take place. A lot can happen in that time span.
However, there are a couple of names that seem to be on the former president’s shortlist. And yes, they all happen to be women.
As you might know, in more recent years, Democrats have managed to captivate the female voting block. However, it is Trump’s goal to win some of that back, and one easy way to do this is to ensure the female voice is well represented on his presidential ticket.
Of course, he hasn’t gone so far as to say that his VP needs to be a woman, as Biden did. After all, there are other qualities Trump admires more. However, it would be a nice bonus.
And lucky for him, there are a few who seem to have characteristics like loyalty, their own “charisma,” be “ideologically aligned” with Trump, and be what he calls “TV ready.”
Those names include big-hitting Republican women like former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Arkansas Governor and former Trump press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Arizona’s Kari Lake.
But another name has also recently been added to the list, which might bear more weight than the rest.
Enter New York Representative Elise Stefanik.
If you’ve heard of her, it’s likely because she received more than a bit of attention during Trump’s impeachment trials while he was still in the White House. Stefanik was undoubtedly one of the most outspoken Trump defenders and, by far, the staunchest of women regarding the subject.
Additionally, she still supports Trump as president, already having given him an endorsement for 2024, as well as singing his praises as chair of the House Republican Conference.
She certainly has the loyalty part down, which those close to Trump say he values above all.
And as friend and adviser to the former president, Mike Caputo, says, that’s not all that puts her at the top of the list.
He calls her “young, dynamic, really bright and engaging,” meaning that “charisma” and “TV-ready” parts are also found in Stefanik.
Caputo told the Daily Caller, “She absolutely has more, let’s call it ‘testicular fortitude’ than most men in the Republican Party. She’s got more balls than any other candidate that might be considered for vice president.”
And let’s just say that fact is not lost on a man like Trump, who prizes such a characteristic.
Additionally, Caputo says she could do a lot for the Trump ticket. First and foremost is because, while she’s from New York, she is quite conservative, and that means she can speak for and to a great many in the more northern parts of the state, as well as the neighboring battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Secondly, her arrival on the political stage and within Trump’s circle all happened long after what most could call his troubled past. As Caputo says, this means she could very well “make a case for Donald Trump better than the candidate himself.”
Of course, Caputo says the decision to choose Stefanik over anyone else is not his to make. And Trump certainly has his own mind. But it’s clear she would be Caputo’s choice.
But as I said above, it’s still early. So who knows what will happen should Trump win the nomination.
