'I don’t believe this for a second': Uproar as report declares new top contender for Donald Trump's VP pick

WASHINGTON, DC: In a surprising development, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has emerged as a top contender to become former President Donald J Trump’s running mate.

This comes as Trump's vice-presidential options are becoming clearer, according to three individuals familiar with Trump's thinking, who spoke to the New York Times on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

A shortlist of contenders

Sources indicate that in addition to Cotton, Trump's current preferences include Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, and JD Vance of Ohio.

Additionally, the former president has considered these five men for potential administration roles should he succeed in unseating President Biden in the upcoming November election.

Despite this, Trump’s confidants warned that his vice-presidential preferences might change. In an interview with News 12, Trump declined to disclose his top candidates but mentioned Rubio, Vance, former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and Representative Elise Stefanik of New York as individuals “who would do a really fantastic job.”

Trump's current list reflects his desire for a running mate who poses minimal risk of distraction amid his ongoing legal challenges.

Cotton's rise as a frontrunner is attributed to Trump's appreciation for his media skills and military background. The former president has privately noted Cotton's reliability and effectiveness in cable news interviews, alongside his Army service, which includes deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump also appreciates Cotton's Ivy League background, a commonality they share, as Trump attended the University of Pennsylvania while Cotton graduated from Harvard.

A spokesperson for Cotton declined to comment. However, when queried about the possibility of serving in a Trump administration, Cotton has stressed that his discussions with Trump revolve around winning the election.

“I suspect only Donald Trump knows who is really on his short list,” Cotton remarked on Fox News. “When we do talk, we talk about what it’s going to take to win this election in November — to elect President Trump to another term in the White House and elect a Republican Congress, so we can begin to repair the damage that Joe Biden’s presidency has inflicted on this country.”

Uncertainty and strategic timing in Trump's VP pick

Trump's unpredictability remains a factor. A close associate indicated that Trump has not shown a particular preference for any candidate, suggesting either a strategic move to keep his options open or a genuine indecision.

This opens up the possibility for another candidate to potentially clinch the vice-presidential position. Trump has expressed that he is not in a hurry to finalize his decision, suggesting in an interview with Fox6 News Milwaukee that he will likely announce his choice closer to the Republican National Convention, scheduled to commence on July 15.

“I’ll be picking, but probably not too much before the convention," Trump said.

Long regarded as a rising star in the Republican Party, Cotton’s ambition could be a double-edged sword with Trump, who has previously sidelined allies perceived as threats to his spotlight.

Notably, Cotton voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results, opposing Trump’s claims of a stolen election.

However, this stance is shared by other contenders like Rubio and Scott, while Burgum has praised former Vice President Mike Pence for resisting Trump’s pressure to overturn the results.

Despite these potential hurdles, Trump has long spoken favorably of Cotton. The former president considered him for a cabinet post in 2016, and they have maintained a close relationship, collaborating on immigration issues and sharing a vision of conservative populism.

Brian Hughes, a senior adviser to Trump, reiterated the campaign's stance on the vice-presidential selection process, stating, "Only President Trump will determine a contender for Vice President, and anyone purporting to know his choice is spreading falsehoods."

Social media reacts to speculation

The speculation surrounding Cotton's potential nomination has sparked a wave of reactions on social media.

"That short list seems to be getting longer not shorter," one quipped on X.

"My thoughts are that it's story # 999 about who the VP will be," another added.

"I don't see this happening. But didn't see Pence either. Hopefully, he is just on the list and not a serious selection," a comment read.

"No way. I don’t believe this for a second," someone else chimed in.

"He's not the worst of them, but he's definitely one of them...the swamp," another alleged.

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