Donald Trump is outpacing his GOP rivals by the double-digits and is well on his way to once again be the Republican nominee for president next year. However, that does not mean that all hope of ever serving in the White House is lost for all the other contenders. In fact, Trump recently implied that he might consider two of his rivals – Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott – as possible running mates should he secure the top of the ticket.
The former president told Fox News that his running mate could “possibly” be among those in the 2024 field. He said that Vivek Ramaswamy has “done a very good job” and Senator Tim Scott is a “very good guy” but stopped short of saying who he would pick if the time came.
During the same interview, Trump once again condemned the investigations and criminal indictments against him while telling Ron DeSantis to “get home to Florida,” accusing his rival for the Republican nomination for president of neglecting the governor’s office.
Trump also gloated over his big win in Sunday’s Turning Point USA straw poll, calling the results a “blowout.”
“Just heard that I (WE!) won the big Turning Point Straw Poll in a BLOWOUT, getting 85.7% of the Vote,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Ron DeSanctimonious came in a solid 3rd with 4.3%, Vivek got 2%, and Sloppy Chris Christie, as usual, got a big, fat, ZERO!” the former president added. “Turning Point put on a GREAT event in West Palm Beach, setting all kinds of records, including in attendance!”
The Turning Point straw poll showed Trump garnering more than 85 percent support among attendees of the conservative group’s event. Michigan businessman Perry Johnson (R), who announced his long-shot bid for the White House in March, followed with nearly 8 percent.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) came in third place with 4.3 percent support, and conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy had 2 percent. Other GOP presidential candidates, including Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R), and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), registered 0.0 percent support, according to the poll.
New Legal Troubles and Other Trump News
Meanwhile, former New Jersey Governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie, who has shown no reluctance to attack Donald Trump, went after the former president for parading his criminal indictments to supporters at a conservative political conference.
“He’s a liar and a coward. He’s not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct,” Christie said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The former president is also facing some new legal woes.
Trump announced that he had received a “target letter” from Special Counsel Jack Smith stating that he is a target of a January 6 grand jury investigation. According to a statement released by the 45th President on Truth Social, the letter, which he said he received on July 16, “almost always means an arrest and indictment.”
“Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ,” he said. “Sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment.”
“THIS WITCH HUNT IS ALL ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND A COMPLETE AND TOTAL POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,” Trump wrote. “It is a very sad and dark period for our Nation!”
He went on to explain that “he has the right to protest an Election that I am fully convinced was Rigged and Stolen, just as the Democrats have done against me in 2016, and many others have done over the ages.”