Many of Donald Trump’s potential vice presidential candidates, who spent time with him at his Florida home over the weekend, appeared on Sunday shows to echo his doubts about election results and criticize President Joe Biden’s handling of campus protests. South Carolina Governor Kristi Noem faced backlash for a story about killing a dog and goat on her farm, with sources saying she was off the shortlist for vice president consideration. Speculation continues swirling around who Trump will select, with high-profile appearances by potential candidates such as Elise Stefanik, Doug Burgum, Tim Scott, and Marco Rubio.
Stefanik used her appearance on Fox News to connect campus unrest to Biden and the Democratic Party, emphasizing Republicans’ stance on peace, security, the Constitution, and antisemitism. Rubio criticized Biden as weak and called for international students defacing statues to have their visas revoked. Scott accused Biden of pandering to his base and not standing up against antisemitism early enough. Biden had previously said little about the unrest on campuses but later made a more substantial statement from the White House.
As Trump focuses on his claims about election integrity, potential vice presidential candidates expressed their concerns. Scott refused to say if he would accept the results of the 2024 election, proclaiming Trump would be the 47th president. Burgum acknowledged Biden’s victory but falsely claimed there were irregularities due to Covid-19 voting rule changes, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Rubio’s residency was called into question, as the 12th Amendment requires electors to vote for someone from a different state, prompting Rubio to pivot to Trump’s legal battles and downplay speculation about being VP.
Noem continued to defend herself after excerpts from her book detailed killing a goat and dog on her farm, a story used against her by opponents. Despite being considered a top contender for Trump’s VP pick, her advisors have indicated she is no longer in consideration. Noem also addressed an error in her book about meeting Kim Jong Un, stating that the updated version would reflect the correction. The focus remains on the speculation surrounding who Trump will select as his vice president, with multiple candidates showcasing their talents and emphasizing their commitment to serving the country in various roles.
