Trump narrows VP search to just SEVEN candidates as vetting papers are sent out to potential running mates – here’s who makes the list and when he will announce his pick

Donald Trump has narrowed his search for a vice presidential candidate to just seven contenders and has begun requesting information from each, sources close to him campaign have said.

Among those in the running are North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Florida’s Marco Rubio, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and South Carolina’s Tim Scott, according to campaign sources cited by Fox News. 

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Trump’s 2016 rival-turned cabinet member Ben Carson were also said to be on the list – a set of seven who will vetted after they fill out the forms, two others said. 

The paperwork sent to each reportedly varies, one of the sources said, as reps for each of the rumored candidates did not respond to requests for comment.

Aides, meanwhile, have cautioned that Trump’s list is not concrete and ever-evolving – and that, at the end of the day, the decision will ultimately be up to him.

Among those being considered is New York Rep Elise Stefanik – one of the 10 Republicans who serve the state. She has become a top contender for the VP spot thanks to her status as chair of the Republican conference, and he being one of the most influential women in her party

 ‘Anyone claiming to know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying,’ Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement.

He quickly added: ‘[U]nless the person is named Donald J. Trump.’ 

The news – first reported by NBC –  comes a week after Trump was found guilty by a jury in Manhattan of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a criminal hush money trial, for which he will be sentenced next month.

Trump, in recent months, has shown hesitance to announce a running mate, after his infamous falling out with former right hand Mike Pence following the insurrection on January 6. 

He has said he may wait until the upcoming Republican National Convention to unveil the right person, which would be in July – just a few days after he is set to be sentence in his criminal case.

In the interim, the other spot on the GOP ticket remains largely unknown – further fueling speculation.

In an appearance on Newsmax the day before, Trump listed Scott, Burgum, Rubio, Vance and Carson as among those in contention.

While NBC was the first to report the development, ABC was the one to initially report on the list, which bore additional names such as Stefanik and Burgum.

Others to reportedly receive requests were a few of Trump’s former rivals, including Marco Rubio and Ben Carson. Both lost to Trump in 2016, but have since made amends. Carson, for instance, served on the then-president’s cabinet, but has since kept his distance 

Sen. Tim Scott is also reportedly being considered, after he too lost to Trump in the primary late last year

Also sent vetting forms was Stefanik and JD Vance, both of whom have been steadily rising though the GOP ranks for the past few years

Stefanik, along with figures like Vance and Donalds, have been steadily rising though the ranks of the GOP for years, each aligning themselves with the potential two-time president at some point in the process.

Vance, for instance, a military vet who grew up in a dysfunctional family in the exurbs of Cincinnati, represents the Rust Belt that carried Trump to an upset victory in 2016. 

He earned national recognition upon defeating a competitive field of Republicans and a formidable Democrat in a 2022 midterm, becoming the U.S. Senator for Ohio as a result.

Stefanik, meanwhile, is one of the 10 Republicans who serve New York, and has become a top Trump VP contender thanks to her status as chair of the Republican conference, and one of the most influential women in her party.

She’s also only 39, indicating a potential propensity toward a younger person filling the hole left behind by longtime conservative Pence.

Donalds, 45, also fits that profile, following an unsuccessful quest to become one of the youngest house speakers in history.

That bid fell flat last year, as did an attempt from Burgum, 67, to beat out Trump for the GOP nomination.

Carson and Rubio, aged 72 and 53, respectively, are also former Trump casualties, both bowing out against the then-political newcomer in 2016.

Rounding out the alleged list, first reported by ABC, is North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Florida Rep. Byron Donalds. Burgum recently bowed out of the GOP race as well, while Donalds threw in the towel in his quest to be the next Speaker of the House late last year

Unlike the others, Carson – seen here with Trump during the GOP debate in September 2015 – has somewhat distanced himself from the currently shrouded VP field, completely absent from Trump’s campaign trail

Also absent has been fellow conservative Rubio, who Trump helped secure a third term as Florida’s governor back in 2022. Rubio – who was famously was slammed  as Little Marco – endorsed the ex-president for the first time ever this year

Both have seemed to have since made amends with the Republican, with Carson even serving on the then-president’s cabinet for his first term.

The former surgeon, however, has somewhat distanced himself from the currently shrouded VP field, absent from Trump’s campaign trail unlike some of the others. 

Also absent has been fellow conservative Rubio, who Trump helped secure a third term as Florida’s governor back in 2022.

Rubio – who was famously was slammed as Little Marco by Trump – endorsed the ex-president for the first time ever this year in return.

Rounding out Trump’s seven was Scott, after he too lost to Trump in a primary – late last year.

The native South Carolinian has since surfaced as one of Trump’s most vocal surrogates, repeatedly floating the idea of being his running mate. 

Last month, he gave the strongest indication he would appear on Trump’s 2024 ticket yet, telling a Newsmax reporter ‘We’ll see’ when asked.

Donalds offered similar sentiments Wednesday in Philadelphia to Fox News, telling the station, ‘I’m not going to comment on that. I’m going to leave that one alone.’

Rubio, meanwhile, told ABC’s Rachel Scott on Wednesday, ‘I haven’t talked to [Trump’s team] about vice president.’

During a phone interview Tuesday night, Trump was asked if he were close to making a decision as to a running mate – leading him to compliment Vance, Rubio and Burgum in particular

He also hailed Scott, saying that while he ‘thought [he] didn’t run as good of a race as he’s capable of running for himself… he’s unbelievable. He’s been incredible [as a a surrogate].’ As of early Thursday morning, an official announcement has yet to be made

The others, including Trump, have yet to comment on the list obtained by ABC, first reported on around 4pm Wednesday.?”

During a phone interview Tuesday night, Trump was asked if he were close to making a decision as to a running mate – leading him to compliment Vance, Rubio and Burgum in particular.

He also hailed Scott, saying that while he ‘thought [he] didn’t run as good of a race as he’s capable of running for himself… he’s unbelievable. He’s been incredible [as a a surrogate].’

‘Gov. Burgum from North Dakota has been incredible. Marco Rubio has been great. J.D. Vance has been great,’ he concluded. ‘We’ve had so many great people out there.’

An official announcement has yet to be made. 

Meanwhile, Trump is still five points ahead of President Joe Biden in the key swing state of Georgia, according to the first survey of the state’s voters after the ex-president’s guilty verdict in the hush money case. 

Quinnipiac released new numbers Wednesday finding that 49 percent of Georgia registered voters supported Trump while 44 percent backed Biden in a two-person race. 

Meanwhile, Trump is still five points ahead of President Joe Biden in the key swing state of Georgia, according to the first survey of the state’s voters after the ex-president’s guilty verdict in the hush money case 

When third-party candidates were factored in, the presumptive Republican nominee was still heading for a win. 

In that scenario, 43 percent selected Trump, 37 percent said Biden and independent Robert F. Kennedy took 8 percent of the vote share. 

Additionally, Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver – who was picked at the party convention last month – received 3 percent, independent Cornel West also received 3 percent and the Green Party’s Jill Stein got the backing of 2 percent of the Georgia vote.