Trump reveals he has picked running mate for VP but will keep name secret, Internet calls it 'smart move'

DES MOINES, IOWA: A wave of speculations erupted online as former President Donald Trump indicated that he has made up his mind about whom he would like to be his running mate if he were to win the Republican nomination for president.

The 77-year-old GOP frontrunner was at a televised town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, when Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum asked him who is his potential vice president.

The real estate tycoon then claimed that he had selected his running but refused to say who it was. “I can’t tell you that really,” Trump said, adding, “I mean, I know who it’s going to be.”

He again vehemently declined to name the person when MacCallum pushed him on their identity. "What about any of the people who you've run against? Would you be open to mending fences with any of them?" the host asked. To which, Trump replied, “Oh, sure. I will, I will.”

After that, he made a joke about choosing former New Jersey governor Chris Christie as his running mate who has been his most outspoken opponent.

"I've already started to like Christie better," Trump said. "Christie for vice president?" MacCallum jokingly asked.

The former president then quipped, “I don't see it, I don't see it. That would be an upset. Christie for vice president. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to announce ...nah.”

Trump’s hints came shortly after Christie announced his decision to end his campaign for the 2024 presidential run. Christie was one of Trump's top finalists for his running mate in 2016, but he chose Mike Pence instead.

This time, Trump’s favorites include Senator Tim Scott, whose own presidential candidacy failed, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who is making an appearance in Iowa as a Trump surrogate, according to Daily Mail.

Trump attacks President Biden over policies toward Iran

Further during the event. Trump launched fierce attacks at President Joe Biden, accusing that he was benefiting the US enemy by easing sanctions and paying for the release of American prisoners.

“Iran was broke. They had no money. There was no money for Hamas, for Hezbollah. There was no money for anybody,” he said while referring to the state of the country's finances when he lost to Biden, 81, in 2020.

Trump especially criticized the Biden administration for extending a sanctions waiver in November of last year, which allowed Iran to obtain almost $10 billion from Iraq in exchange for the purchase of power.

“They get $10 billion for supplying some electricity to Iraq, which, by the way, they own,” Trump said, calling Iraq “a subsidiary of Iran.”

The former president continued by saying that when the US attacked Iraq in 2003, it ought to have taken over the country's oil output.

“If you’re going to do it, keep the oil, remember, keep the oil,” Trump said, adding, “They didn’t keep the oil. .. and we have nothing. We have nothing. You know, they used to say about wars, to the victor belong the spoils. We go into someplace, we obliterate it and then we leave. We are run by fools. We’re run by stupid people.”

Internet reacts to Trump's remarks

A wave of speculations erupted online with Trump indicating that that he already knows who he will choose as his running mate.

“Super smart move. People will be drumming up speculation for days,” one user said.

“I feel like there's some sort of alliance being built: him, Vivek, Tucker, Elon, Melania. He feels supported. It's showtime. He's in it to win it!” the second user speculated.

“I hope and pray he'll pick Desantis as VP. What a dream ticket!” the third user asserted, while the fourth one wrote, “Probably talked to and already secured the agreement of his chosen VP.”

“He knew it was corrupt and crooked during his first term, but didn’t have all the details. Now he does, and he’s having no trouble articulating those things. While still campaigning in true Trump fashion,” one more stated

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.