Donald Trump’s potential vice presidential candidates may have their differences, but they all have one thing in common: they’re noncommittal about accepting the election results.
In recent weeks, news anchors have asked Republican politicians who are rumored to be on the former president’s shortlist of possible 2024 running mates whether they would accept the result of the presidential election.
“The 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump,” Sen. Tim Scott responded when asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “That is my statement.”
Separately, Sen. Marco Rubio told “Meet the Press,” “No matter what happens? No. If it’s an unfair election, I think it’s going to be contested by either side.” The show’s host, Kristen Welker, then pressed, “Senator, no matter who wins.” Rubio replied, “I think you’re asking the wrong person.”
Sen. J.D. Vance told CNN’s Dana Bash that he thinks “every Republican will enthusiastically accept the results” if “it’s a free and fair election.”
Scott and Rubio both voted to certify the election in 2020. Vance was not a senator at the time.
Back in January, Welker asked House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik the same question, to which she responded, “We will see if this is a legal and valid election.” Stefanik voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
Other potential picks were asked whether they think former VP Mike Pence made the right decision to proceed in certifying the election results in 2020, and if they would do the same.
“If you have state officials who are violating the election law in their states … then no, I would not,” Rep. Byron Donalds told Axios.
“I don’t answer hypothetical questions,” South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said to NewsNation.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum skirted the line of questioning by CNN, “I think that all the speculation about who’s going to be in the Cabinet, who’s going to be vice president, is just a distraction from what has to happen, which is, the party’s got to focus on Donald Trump winning in November.”
