It's only a little less than a year before the 2022 midterms, but the 2024 presidential election is already generating buzz, particularly regarding whether or not former President Donald Trump will run for reelection after losing his bid for a second term in 2020.
What's almost certain is if Trump runs, his former Vice President, Mike Pence, won't be on the ticket this go-around. Pence faced the ire of Trump and his supporters when, during the joint congressional session certifying Biden's 2020 victory, Pence refused to unilaterally throw out electoral votes of swing states Trump lost—a power he didn't have in the first place, according to most constitutional scholars.
That day, as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol to beat police officers and ransack congressional offices, they called for Pence's execution, seeing him as disloyal to Trump.
According to a new report from Politico's Marc Caputo, Trump is looking for a running mate who won't be afraid to echo Trump's fantasy that he is the legitimate winner of the 2020 election, a lie he's been parroting for more than a year:
"Those familiar with his thinking say his selection will be determined by two factors that rate highest in Trump’s estimation: unquestioned loyalty and an embrace of the former president’s baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him."
There are already some early contenders. Among them is Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who recently met with the former President at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. According to a person present for the meeting, it was a "really warm" and "appropriately deferential" interaction.
People aren't surprised to see Trump demanding prospective running mates embrace his delusions.
Feels like those unfamiliar with his thinking could have drawn a similar conclusion
— CSR 🇷🇴 (@SeeRadd) November 29, 2021
Is this actually news?
— Janice Forsyth (@JaniceForsyth5) November 29, 2021
In today’s news…water is wet and even more wet when it’s raining. 🙄 https://t.co/GC5qC3yrlf
— Melody speaks gif fluently (@UnpaintedMelody) November 29, 2021
That doesn't mean people weren't concerned.
This is how fascist leaders get their start..... https://t.co/v8cWryItYM
— Plaudd (@PlauDD) November 29, 2021
In other words, obsequious. https://t.co/6108x2qKps
— Bob Morse (@bobmorse) November 29, 2021
We’re not doing enough to keep our democracy from dying https://t.co/ztMsgG7IWw
— Joe Hyndman (@joehyndman) November 29, 2021
It’s really something, how many politicians who’ve talked so much about defending the Constitution are totally complicit or at best silent about a fundamental attack on the Constitution being planned and executed in broad daylight. https://t.co/mZeTbQ4xYB
— Andy Craig (@AndrewRCraig) November 29, 2021
Yuck https://t.co/WSrtyj6KJF
— Trie Simms (@simonpa22) November 29, 2021
We must do everything we can to ensure he never gets power again. https://t.co/8puRjsYVe9
— #SophieSchollsGhost (@Saintsfan5348) November 29, 2021
Trump likely won't confirm or deny his run until after the midterms in 2022.
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