Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said Monday he is not lobbying to be former President Donald Trump’s running mate, even though his name has come up in discussions for the position.
“If it came down to me, I’d have a great attitude toward it. But it’s not something I would seek in a lobbying effort. I don’t think that’s the right attitude to take toward it. And, you know, Mr. Trump may respect that. He may not, but that’s ultimately his decision,” Vance told “Fox & Friends.”
The first-term Ohio senator denied a statement by Fox News’ Lawrence Jones that he was the “obvious choice” and said he had not discussed the matter with Trump.
“At the end of the day, this is Donald Trump’s decision. There are a lot of great people out there. And I’m glad it’s not my decision, because there are a lot of great people out there. But as I’ve said to others, I have not spoken to Donald Trump about this. I would be very interested in helping him in any way possible,” Vance said, adding, “If he asks me to serve, I would certainly do that.”
Vance was once a critic of the former president, but since taking office in the midterm elections he has become a strong ally of the former president.
“I was wrong about him,” Vance told CNN last month, “and that’s one of the reasons I’m working so hard to get him elected.”
Vance is one of several names rumored to be on Trump’s shortlist as the vice presidential search heats up, with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R-North Dakota), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-North Dakota) all reportedly receiving vetting requests from the Trump campaign in recent days.
Trump has said he plans to announce his running mate at the Republican National Convention in July, just days before he is due to be sentenced in New York state following his historic conviction.
