Who Will Donald Trump Pick for VP? Kari Lake Might Not Be Trump’s Best Bet – Writing for Axios on March 7, reporter Mike Allen claimed that former President Donald Trump is considering four women to be his vice-presidential pick in 2024.
The piece argues that Trump is considering failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake as one option, as well as former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
What Donald Trump Needs
It’s probably true that Trump is considering a female nominee this time around.
In 2016, Trump had an uphill battle against his own party, making his VP pick more important for GOP voters than independents.
Mike Pence proved a wise choice for Donald Trump for this reason.
Pence was reasoned, calm, and articulate – quite the opposite of Trump in many ways.
Pence was an established conservative, a trusted name among pro-lifers, and someone who could appeal to evangelicals and the more conservative wing of the GOP.
Trump, at the time, appealed more to independents who were willing to give a famous businessman a shot at the top job.
In 2024, however, Trump already has the support of the most right-wing factions within the Republican Party and may be wise to choose a candidate who appeals more to independents.
In many ways, a female candidate could help counter-balance Trump’s aggressive debate style – but it won’t if that female candidate is as aggressive and bombastic as the former president.
Is Kari Lake the Right Choice?
Allen cited anonymous sources familiar with Trump’s plans and claimed that one key consideration in choosing a new running mate will be whether they outshine him or not.
Referencing Lake, who lost the Arizona election despite being an unquestionably talented orator, Allen said that the former president believes she may take the attention from him during her time in the White House and would be angling for the top job the moment he is inaugurated.
That being said, Lake is articulate, hard to shake, and can – for the most part – at least appear back up the claims she makes.
Lake has taken the media to task on the issue of election integrity, but no matter how well she makes her case, it seems as though the American public just isn’t on the same page.
For this reason alone, Lake’s talent for communication – a product of her years of experience as a TV news anchor – might not be enough to help Donald Trump.
Lake’s loss in Arizona should raise some questions, too.
While the situation in Maricopa was frankly inexcusable, Republican candidates down ticket did win, while Lake did not.
Whether or not the election was influenced by widespread fraud or mismanagement, the fact that Lake lost while others won should be a warning sign to Team Trump that independents aren’t quite convinced by her.
If Trump wants a fighter as his VP, and someone who can handle the press, Lake is his woman.
If he wants a candidate who can help him win, he may be wise to look elsewhere.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
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