Trump’s Veepstakes is shaping up like the newest season of The Apprentice
As the presumptive Republican nominee, President Donald J. Trump will be directing major focus towards his running mate in 2024. We breakdown the rapidly narrowing MAGA VP field
With the first scheduled debate of the 2024 Presidential Primary season now behind us, we saw a bland, boring and bloviating lineup of establishment retreads and not-as-known outsiders bickering amongst themselves for two hours fighting over the remaining polling number scraps that Donald Trump has yet to absorb.
Man, was it ugly.
And then there is the former president and presumptive nominee, freshly arraigned in Fulton County this week who skipped the debate to sit down for a one-on-one interview with Tucker Carlson on X (formerly twitter), for an interview that is currently breaking the interwebs (nearly as fast as his mugshot is) and hurtling towards three hundred million views.
Trump, who will be the GOP nominee (he’s leading in many national polls by a margin of 30-50 points) probably watched on with glee as the GOP candidate JV Team failed to land any major blows to him or his campaign from the debate stage last week in Milwaukee.
Which historically green lights from this point on, and at any moment, the Trump Team’s ability to begin that push and pivot towards the General Election and beating Joe Biden next fall if they haven’t began to do so already.
That being said, one of the biggest decisions Donald Trump will make heading into next year will be, who will officially stand beside him on the campaign trail and appear below his name on the ballot come next fall.
The former iconic television boardroom guru must break away from the “You’re fired” narrative and decide for the American people, “Who’s hired?”
And after watching the debate on Wednesday, I don’t think that it’s anyone who’s currently running (way) behind President Trump in the primary, that much I’m almost certain of.
After discussing the topic for over a year on the Steak for Breakfast Podcast now, let’s analyze who some of the major players in the Trump Veepstakes are (and aren’t), and how and why that selection will make for the most formidable ticket moving forward.
Our selection is not our personal choice for VP, but is the one who makes the most sense at this point in the primary season.
The eventual Vice President pick is going to be the candidate who not only identifies with the America First base, but the one who is going to be the ticketmate that can bring in voters from both sides of the isle and can help President Trump win a nationwide election next fall.
Who’s Out: Reality and heartbreak scenarios for America First
Kari Lake: Former Gubernatorial Candidate, Arizona, 2022
Kari Lake has become a staple in all things MAGA. She’s a warrior, who brings the truth, is relentless and represents all the right things that make America First great. Kari has been a major component and surrogate for Donald Trump since his announcement to run for re-election last year, and can in an instance, draw larger crowds than many of the candidates currently running for President. Kari’s strong similarities to Trump to transpire into adding more MAGA on a potential Trump / Lake ticket, in an scenario where we look for VP that’s more towards the center (to hit all the cross-tab demographics that we’re lacking in) for the general election. Therefore, Kari should declare, as has been rumored, her candidacy to run for the Sinema-held, Arizona Senate seat in 2024.
Potential Administration Position: White House Press Secretary
Congressman Byron Donalds: U.S. Representative, FL-19
Byron Donalds claimed in an interview earlier this year that he was “6’2, 275, African American, and ain’t scared of shit.” The intensity that he brings whether it’s on a television spot in opposition territory, like on CNN or in Congressional Committee, Donalds has quickly risen to the top echelon of America First Congressmen and loyalists to Donald Trump. His rise in presence and popularity amongst the base has been a real shot in the arm for President Trump as he navigates through some of his most recent legal battles. Although Donalds would be a strong, maybe even ideal contender for the Vice Presidency, it is in Florida and at the state-wide level that we feel he would best serve his progression towards an eventual nation-wide race. Donalds looks to be a strong candidate to challenge those who seek to become the next U.S. Senator or Governor in Florida over the next few years, and eventually have a legitimate shot to run for the Presidency down the road.
Potential Administration Position: Treasury Secretary, Office of Management & Budget
Senator JD Vance: Senator, Ohio
In a perfect world, less-ridden with partisan politics and the demonization of political figures, a Trump / Vance ticket would be the pinnacle representation of America First. With Donald Trumps unique, nationalist style of governing combined with Vance’s more-polished, policy-driven outlook, this would give us a better than average shot at really draining the swamp. Unfortunately, the political temperature in the country calls for more of a yang to the Presidents ying on a ticket, so it looks like Senators like Josh Hawley (R-MO), Tuberville (R-SC) and Vance all have senatorial re-elections in their futures before deciding on whether or not to try a bid at running for the Oval Office I’m 2028 or beyond.
Potential Administration Position: Sec. Def.
Governor Doug Burgum, South Dakota
Doug Burgum has cautiously ran as a candidate for the 2024 GOP Presidential nomination just about as quietly as one could do. Many outside of the press and residents of North Dakota who don’t follow politics as closely as we do might not even have known who Burgum was until his recent rash of television appearances on the news, his speaking events at the Iowa State Fair and after his performance at first Republican debate last week.
Burgum, who’s big on producing American energy and being energy independent is policy point that not only resonates with America First, but it’s an item that’s likely caught the eye of Donald Trump. Throughout Trump’s first term in office, the 45th President and Burgum seemed to have a solid relationship on many things ranging from the development of new pipeline projects, to federal deregulation, building the economy and response to the covid-19 pandemic.
Burgum who’s reigned as North Dakota’s Governor since 2016 is obviously looking to run for higher office and garner national attention with his bid for President this year. Being seated in second Trump administration as a Cabinet-level position would definitely propel Burgum’s political capital to new heights including a giving him an inside track ahead of the 2028 presidential cycle.
Potential Administration Position: Energy Secretary or Secretary of the Interior
Who’s In: Our Current Top 4
#4.) Congresswoman Elise Stefanik: U.S. Representative, NY-21
Elise Stefanik is currently the Chair of the House Republican Conference and is the 4th ranking member on the Republican side of the House of Representatives. Stefanik has been a staunch supporter and advocate of Donald Trump, often issuing a press-release on Trump-related items as they’re breaking in real time. Stefanik checks a lot of boxes, supporting Trump’s claims that the 2020 Election was rigged and stolen and that Nancy Pelosi was complicit in orchestrating the events surrounding Jan. 6th. Potentially, Stefanik has the ability to bide her time and push for a run at the House Speaker’s gavel at some point in the near future but in the meantime her service to America First is best seen in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Potential Administration Position: Secretary of Labor or Education Secretary
#3.) Vivek Ramaswamy: Billionaire Entrepreneur, 2024 Presidential Candidate
Whether you have heard about Vivek Ramaswamy since his time within the pharmaceutical business sector, as the author of Woke, Inc. or more recently since appearing on the political battlefield, his rise in presence and popularity within the Republican Party especially with young voters can no longer be ignored. The thing about Vivek is, how to this point he has been able run a 2015 style, Trump-like campaign; as a rebel, and an outsider who cannot be bought or influenced by the D.C. Swamp culture, the special interests and their lobbying firms. The reality is, is that this shtick is only plausible for as long as Ramaswamy is able to avoid Donald Trump on the campaign trail or debate stage. In reality, it’s been refreshing to see a non-neocon or establishment empty suit reinvigorate conservative politics as he’s battled with the rest of field however, once the breach narrows and Vivek and Trump meet at some point down the road the question remains will they still at that point see eye-to-eye?
Potential Administration Position: Secretary of Education, Commerce or Labor
#2.) Lee Zeldin: Former New York Gubernatorial Candidate, 2022
Zeldin, although a long shot at this point, is an extremely strong candidate that many will hope is vetted heading into the General Election cycle. After losing a narrow race for the Governorship in New York of all places last fall, Zeldin has moved onto consulting and specializes in public relations, crisis management, strategy and acquisitions. Make no mistake about it, Zeldin, a rising star in the Republican Party is a skilled debater who championed Trump-era policies during his time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a member of the House Freedom Caucus. Zeldin’s ability to whip moderates and independents adds to his attractiveness as a running mate and strengthens the case for his consideration.
Potential Administration Position: Ambassador to the United Nations, White House Chief-of-Staff
#1.) Governor Kristi Noem: Governor, South Dakota
In selecting a Vice Presidential pick, Donald Trump has the luxury of a deep bench heading into next year. With many quality candidates that have gone unmentioned, there’s one who has caught my eye due to her subtle camapign geared at expanding her brand nationally. If you haven’t noticed over the past several months, Noem has launched a national advertisement campaign airing on cable news channels. These ads are focused in on the in-state successes that Noem has had in regards to labor, education and the labor boom that South Dakota has experienced post-pandemic. In addition to being an ardent Trump supporter, Noem’s compiled a resume that puts her towards the top of the top ranked Republican Governors both on the issues and for in-states prosperity. She brings youthful vibrance while having the ability in her skill set to fight for America First on either the debate stage or in a town hall style setting.
She has collaborated with both Republicans and Democrats on every issue from emergency response (wildfires and throughout the pandemic) to trade and border security. Considered by some as just a bit less than Ultra MAGA, Noem has the opportunity to widen the tent, expand the base and draw in moderates, independents and assist in areas where Trump has historically struggled with, like with younger, single, female voters.
As a Congresswoman, Noem was on multiple leadership committees, served as a congressional liaison and on panels. She has strong, America First stances on domestic energy production (was in favor of the XL Pipeline) and border security while also delivering on tax cuts for her constituents back in South Dakota. Noem has sat on the House Armed Services Committee, rounding out her major upside as a potential VP pick. President Trump is scheduled to be in South Dakota for campaign-related events in early September and should receive a more than warm welcome from the long time ally. Noem may not light that fire at first for the most ardent supporters of President Trump, but in the end and on paper you can at least make the argument that Noem would be a more than intelligent pick that does nothing but help President Trump in his bid to secure the Oval Office again in 2024.
Potential Administration Position: Vice President
• Rone is the Executive Producer and Host on the Steak for Breakfast Podcast, a proud partner of the Pulse Media Group. You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts at: