Former President Donald Trump could announce his pick to be his vice presidential running mate as soon as this week, possibly before Thursday’s debate, according to four people familiar with the situation.
Trump has said publicly that he intends to announce his pick shortly before or during the Republican convention next month.
But there have been high-level discussions in recent days within the Trump campaign about moving up that timeline and making an impact sooner, according to these sources, who requested anonymity to speak candidly.
The sources also warned that the moment is not yet definitive and that the decision could still happen closer to the convention.
After this article was published, Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita tweeted, “yes…could come today …or…sometime in mid-July!!”
Trump will be in Atlanta on Thursday for his first debate against President Joe Biden. He has a rally scheduled for Friday in Virginia.
The planning comes less than a month before the Republican National Convention, which is set to begin July 15 in Milwaukee. Four days earlier, Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in New York on 34 counts of falsifying business documents related to secret payments to cover up a sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels, an affair he denied ever occurred.
This gives him a limited window to introduce his running mate to the public.
NBC News reported Friday that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida were still at the top of the list of possible choices.
Trump said over the weekend that he knows who he will choose and that his running mate will be present at the debate, which will be hosted by CNN in Atlanta. Rubio, Vance and Burgum are expected to be in town for the debate.
People familiar with discussions about a pre-debate ad had different opinions about Trump’s leanings. One said he is eager to fill out his ticket before facing Biden. Another source said he would like the opportunity to throw a curveball to distract Biden before they meet, but understands that such a move could create logistical and political complications.
“Early last week, there was a definite change from a scheduled announcement for the start of the convention,” said a third person familiar with the planning.
Trump’s official spokespeople have regularly tamped down speculation about the timing of an announcement and the identity of Trump’s running mate, and did so again on Tuesday.
“As President Trump himself has said, the main criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will be a great president for eight years following the conclusion of his next four-year term,” said Trump’s spokesman, Brian Hughes, in a statement. “But anyone who says they know who or when President Trump will choose his vice president is lying, unless that person is named Donald J. Trump.”
Burgum dodged a question from NBC News on Tuesday about whether he planned to speak to Trump before the debate.
“Looking forward to the debate, for sure,” he said. “We’ll be in Atlanta.”
He ignored a follow-up question about whether he had spoken to Trump about the job this week.
Jillian Frankel It is Carrie Budoff Brown contributed.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
