Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump will be announcing his pick from four potential running mates on Friday. (Photo : Getty Images/Mark Wilson)
Donald Trump has wrapped up private meetings and public tryouts with his finalists for vice president and is expected to announce his pick Friday morning. He is now down to four potential running mates.
Trump, in his post via Twitter, said that he will be making his announcement for his running mate at 11 a.m. in Manhattan.
I will be making the announcement of my Vice Presidential pick on Friday at 11am in Manhattan. Details to follow.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2016
According to CNN, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's search for VP has earlier turned into "frenzied, last-minute try-outs," with candidates who covet the post "hopping on planes and phones."
Trump landed in Indiana Tuesday night to campaign with Governor Mike Pence and got stuck in the state, the news agency noted. Trump's plane had hit something and popped a tire, requiring him to stay there longer than he expected.
The plane-related incident had set off a last-minute scramble of VP finalists travelling to Indiana as the clock was already ticking down on Trump's decision.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had to fly on a private jet to Indianapolis to meet with Trump, the news agency wrote, citing two unnamed inside sources. Gingrich was later spotted leaving a hotel in the same motorcade as the Trump children, Eric, Don. Jr., and Ivanka.
Trump also had a phone conversation, which included the topic of vice presidency, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Meanwhile, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions also got to Indianapolis and had a meeting with Trump in order to serve as another adviser.
Trump held a tryout of sorts for each of his potential running mates, giving each one a trial run on the campaign trail. But his process, NPR noted, seem to have drawn more comparison to "The Apprentice," his popular reality TV show, where people will find out sooner or later who the last one standing is going to be.
CNN quoted Trump as saying that he was narrowing down his choices. He said he was "at three, potentially four," but that in his own mind, he is "thinking about two." The presidential hopeful, however, said he just wants to pick someone solid and smart.
NPR also recalled that Trump had earlier said he was on the lookout for a candidate who would be an attack dog and a "fighter who is skilled in hand-to-hand combat" when it comes to rebutting criticisms from media.
Know more about the type of running mate Trump wants in the video below:
