A former campaign adviser to former President Donald Trump has suggested that former First Lady Melania Trump could play a key role in who he chooses as his running mate.
David Urban mentioned Melania Trump’s name when asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett on Friday who he thought would be “the most influential” choice for the former president’s running mate. The CNN host noted that businessman Rupert Murdoch, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Fox News host Sean Hannity are among those who have voiced their preference.
“Melania Trump. His wife! I want to know who Melania loves. She’s probably his closest advisor,” Urban told Burnett, who named Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-Fla.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as possible contenders for the vice presidential spot.
The former first lady “wields great influence over her husband,” Urban noted in his comments. MediaiteShe added that she has “met with these people” and can offer educated suggestions about the best running mate for her husband.
“It’ll be interesting to see who she falls for,” Urban said.
According to reports, leading candidates for the vice presidential spot include Vance, Burgum and Rubio, as well as Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Rep. Byron Donald (R-Florida).
As the Republican National Convention approaches, speculation is growing about who might be Trump’s running mate, after Trump said earlier this month that he would likely announce his running mate at the convention in Milwaukee in July.
In 2016, then-candidate Trump announced former Vice President Mike Pence as his running mate just days before the party convention.
