By With Donald Trump in firm control of the GOP primary, most political watchers have begun speculating who the former president will choose as a running mate.
Last month, Robert F. Kennedy claimed to have been offered the position earlier in the campaign and turned it down. His comments received an immediate denial from the Trump campaign, sparking the president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr., to go as far as labeling the Democratic scion “a radical liberal.”
Now another member of Trump World has suggested a new name for Trump to consider. During an appearance on the Fox News late night show “Gutfield!,” former Trump Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the former president should consider Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The host of Fox’s “Outnumbered” appeared as a “Gutfeld!” guest panelist Monday night, where she suggested that Trump pick Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. A political newcomer before he took office in 2022, Youngkin was endorsed by Trump but has maintained his distance from the MAGA movement, explained The Wrap.
“We don’t know what [Democrats] have planned, so we need someone who can bring in independents,” McEnany said. “I’m going to throw a name out there: Glenn Youngkin.”
Her choice was popular with the studio audience, who applauded it as she began to make her case for the moderate Republican businessman-turned-governor. Host Greg Gutfeld wondered out loud whether the affable, vest-wearing former college basketball player could get along with Trump.
“I think so,” she said. “But Glenn Youngkin can do it. Look, Biden’s down 17 in the state, Glenn Youngkin’s up 24 – bring on that guy!”
Youngkin was an early favorite of the Republican donor class and many hoped he would challenge Trump for the nomination in 2024 before announcing he would not be running.
He would also have to swallow his pride if offered the job from Trump. Early on in the race, despite not being in the primary, the former president attacked Youngkin.
“Young Kin (now that’s an interesting take. Sounds Chinese, doesn’t it?) in Virginia couldn’t have won without me,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media platform he helped found. “I Endorsed him, did a very big Trump Rally for him telephonically, got MAGA to Vote for him – or he couldn’t have come close to winning. But he knows that, and admits it. Besides, having a hard time with the Dems in Virginia – But he’ll get it done!”
The vice presidential talk, however, may not be purely speculative on McEnany’s part. The Virginia governor will soon have a chance to burnish his resume and rebuild bridges with the Trump family. Youngkin is expected to be meeting with Don Jr. at an event that will also feature the former press secretary and several conservative activists.
NBC News reports that “Donald Trump Jr., Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will be among the speakers appearing at Washington and Lee University’s Mock Convention next month — a student event that has often hosted future presidents and presidential candidates in the past.
The event occurs every four years and models itself after the nominating convention for the out-of-power party seeking a return to the White House. The last day of ‘Mock Con,’ which will be held Feb. 9-10 this year, features a prediction by students of who will be nominated at the actual Republican convention in Milwaukee later this year.”
Washington and Lee have a surprisingly accurate record when it comes to predicting who will be the party nominees. Mock Convention press secretary Addie-Grace Cook told the news outlet that “since 1908, we’ve been right 75% of the time overall, and since 1948, we’ve had 100% accuracy in predicting Republican nominations.”
One name that has been constantly brought up in veep speculation continues to be New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Trump himself has put her on the shortlist, praising her as a “killer” during meetings at Mar-a-Lago.
Much like Glenn Youngkin, Stefanik could “unite the clans.” She started her career in politics as a protege of former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, serving as his top campaign adviser when he paired with Mitt Romney on the 2012 Republican ticket that lost to Obama-Biden.
Stefanik helped Paul Ryan prepare for a debate against then Vice President Joe Biden during the 2012 election. In the debate, her work did not appear to pay off. Despite being deemed the heavy favorite he was declared the loser afterwards. In the words of one commentator, Ryan was “overwhelmed by Biden’s alpha-male display.”
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