Trump Campaign Begins Vetting Vice Presidential Candidates As List Narrows

With the Republican National Convention a little over a month away, speculation about who Trump will choose as his running mate continues to dominate the headlines as the vital selection will impact not only the presidential race but the future of the Republican Party. Recent reports from NBC News indicate that Team Trump has begun the first formal step to begin vetting candidates from among at least eight candidates.

According to NBC, the Trump campaign has begun to request personal information from vice presidential contenders. The vetting requests have been sent to Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. Each one of the candidates sent vetting materials has been a strong advocate for Trump on the campaign trail, with many of them participating in fundraisers or appearing on national television to rally support for the 45th president.

The development comes after Trump told Newsmax's Greg Kelly that he has "some unbelievable people" to choose from to join him on the ticket. The vetting requests prove that Trump has narrowed his search and begun to eliminate some candidates, including Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), who recently was engulfed in a scandal that revealed she shot and killed a puppy.

While the 45th president's search has narrowed to eight candidates, several sources told NBC News that the race is really down to a top four. According to sources close to Team Trump, the campaign has narrowed down the top contenders to Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND), Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).

The four contenders, who could play a significant role as he navigates the multiple legal cases against him, bring a wealth of experience to the table. All four have a strong track record in statewide or national campaigns, with three even having run for president. Among them, J.D. Vance stands out as the most aligned with Trump's America First movement, a crucial consideration given Trump's ability to only serve one term.

While Trump's list has reportedly been narrowed to a few options, the Trump campaign has continued to play close to its chest about its selection process. "Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying, unless the person is named Donald J. Trump," Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes said.

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