Trump rules out Vivek Ramaswamy as running mate as he eyes new team

Jason Miller, a senior Trump campaign adviser, said it’s far too early to be speculating about who will fill Cabinet or senior roles. “Apparently somebody has decided to list out everyone who has ever met President Trump and is now speculating as to their potential participation in a second Trump administration. The truth is that unless you hear it directly from President Trump or his campaign, this is all b.s.” Miller said.

Those who have participated in the discussions describe a quintessentially Trump experience, in which the former president peppers the conversation with political observations and media critiques as a steady stream of food is served, while he keeps an eye on cable news or chooses his favorite musical selections over dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club.

The former president has repeatedly expressed admiration for Burgum, a billionaire who mounted a short-lived presidential bid. He has been discussed as a good fit to lead a transition – and possibly the Energy Department. Burgum, like Trump, is a supporter of fossil fuels.

Fellow U.S. senators Lindsey Graham and John Thune have praised South Carolina Senator Tim Scott as a possible vice presidential pick.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is not expected to feature in a Trump administration following his futile attempt to challenge the former president in the primary. Trump regularly vents about DeSantis in private conversations. But the former opponents did have a phone conversation, which was kept secret, soon after DeSantis dropped out, according to people familiar with the discussion, who said their talk was surprisingly cordial.

Trump is known to change his mind about personnel and policy, but for now, he isn’t satisfied with his roster of vice presidential possibilities. Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican, is seen as lacking a national profile, fundraising base, or ability to deliver her home of New York state, a long-held pipe dream for Trump, a Queens native. But she’s likely to have a Cabinet role, people close to Trump said.

Trump has complained that Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, one of his former White House press secretaries, waited too long to endorse him. Senator Katie Britt of Alabama botched her odds because of her widely panned response to Biden’s State of the Union, and was already viewed skeptically by Trump hardliners as an ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Justice Department

Trump sees leadership at the nation’s top law enforcement agency as one of his most crucial decisions. Trump’s clashed with his attorneys general over the investigation into Russian election interference and later over his unsubstantiated claims the 2020 election was stolen. The Justice Department’s prosecution of the former president over his retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn his defeat have only raised the stakes.

Senate Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas are seen as possibilities for attorney general because it would likely be easy to secure their confirmation.

Trump has repeatedly discussed the idea of hiring lawyer Mike Davis, a former aide to Senator Chuck Grassley who previously worked at the Justice Department, possibly as acting attorney general, or as White House counsel. Mike Purpura, who represented Trump is in his first impeachment, is another person viewed as a strong contender for White House counsel.

FBI Director Christopher Wray, who Trump nominated in 2017 but has since earned his ire over statements on Ukraine and Jan. 6, is unlikely to remain if Trump is reelected, according to several people familiar with Trump’s planning. They said the expectation is that Wray would likely resign.

Other agencies

Lighthizer and Trump’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson remain well liked by the former president and could be in line for a promotion.

John Ratcliffe, who served as intelligence director, is seen as a possible choice for that job — or Defense secretary or secretary of State. Nothing is decided, and it will likely be a game of musical chairs for top posts, with possibilities including Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, former National Security Council chief of staff Keith Kellogg, and Senators J.D. Vance of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida, according to people familiar with Trump’s current thinking.