NORTH CAROLINA, USA (Nettavisen): Donald Trump has not yet announced who will be his vice presidential candidate. He is expected to choose his running mate before the Republican National Convention in July. The last time Trump announced that the election fell to Mike Pence was on July 15.
– I think Trump will be most concerned with choosing someone who he thinks will be loyal to him, in classic mafia boss style, US expert Hilde Restad told Nettavisen in January.
Last weekend, the stage was set for an event with around 400 Trump donors at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Tim Scott, Kristi Noem, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum, Elise Stefanik, Vivek Ramaswamy were all in attendance.
Vice-president tryouts
At the same time, they are filling up their calendars with interviews and events to garner votes for Trump.
“This weekend we had 15 people. They are out campaigning. It can be more efficient this way. Every single one of them thinks they can be elected, which I guess votes are,” presidential candidate Trump told Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin on Tuesday.
South Carolina’s senator Tim Scott is one of those who is probably high on the list in the battle for the powerful position. On Sunday, he was pressed on the question “will you commit to accepting the election result?”.
Didn’t want to answer the question
Tim Scott answered the question evasively.
– The 47th president of the United States will be Donald Trump, Scott said before trying to list what the United States will look like under Trump 2.0.
The senator was interrupted. Star journalist Kristen Welker repeatedly tried to clarify the question. She asked for a “yes” or “no” answer.
“That’s my message,” “I’m looking forward to Trump being the 47th president. Christian you can ask multiple times”, “Americans will make the decision and I think our next president will be Donald Trump”, “this is why many people think NBC News is an extension of the Democratic Party”, were among Scott’s responses.
– Should scare anyone who listens
Welker tried to explain to Scott that the bedrock of a successful democracy is a peaceful transfer of power. But Scott still wouldn’t answer what he calls a hypothetical question.
The statement, or the lack of statement, has provoked reactions.
– The fact that Tim Scott refuses to say that he will follow the law and not try to undermine the election results should frighten anyone listening, says the organization Citizens for Ethics on Twitter.
Former CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter makes the following observation:
– See what Trump requires to become a MAGA vice-presidential candidate. Tim Scott destroys his reputation and credibility when he refuses to say whether he will accept the 2024 election results.
Mike Taylor, who has worked in the Trump administration, points out that this is an audition. Taylor is disappointed that the Republicans are standing behind Trump, and who he believes now, like Trump, pose a threat to democracy.
– He did not expect that question. I think it sends a signal, he says.
