Donald Trump’s well-known television catchphrase from “The Apprentice,” “You’re fired,” could take on new meaning as a group of Republican politicians gathers in Florida for a high-stakes donor retreat. This time, however, they’re not competing for a corporate position but for the role of vice president on Trump’s 2024 campaign ticket.
The retreat will feature several GOP lawmakers rumored to be on Trump’s list of potential running mates, including Sens. Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, and J.D. Vance, along with Governors Doug Burgum and Kristi Noem, as well as Representatives Elise Stefanik and Byron Donalds . The goal for these politicians is to win favor with Trump and prove their value to the campaign by demonstrating their ability to impress donors, raise funds, and, perhaps most importantly, show loyalty to the former president.
While Trump is not expected to announce his running mate during the retreat, the gathering provides a unique opportunity for these contenders to showcase their charisma and potential as Trump’s second-in-command. The role of vice president on a Trump ticket is significant, as it likely involves defending the former president’s controversial policies and helping him navigate a turbulent campaign season.
Trump’s team is reportedly looking for candidates who can act as an “attack dog” to support Trump during his legal battles and political campaigns. Vice presidential expert Joel Goldstein from Saint Louis University noted that many of the contenders are incentivized to be strong in their critiques, not only of Democrats but also of other Republicans who have distanced themselves from Trump.
Before running for the presidency, Donald Trump became nationally known for his TV role on The Apprentice as a businessman choosing among candidates vying to join his organization.
“You’re fired!” became a famous catchphrase of Trump as the show grew in popularity.
Now, nearly a dozen politicians hope to hear some version of “You’re hired!” from Trump as they jockey to join his 2024 campaign as his running mate.
Trump will reprise his Apprentice-style competition over the weekend when several Republican lawmakers, rumored to be on the long list of vice presidential candidates, head to Palm Beach, Florida, for a three-day GOP donor retreat.
The lawmakers are auditioning for the “golden ticket” also known as Trump’s second in command and the likely next head of the GOP after Trump’s tenure is over.
At the retreat, these vice presidential candidates will have to prove they have the stamina to impress GOP donors, the charisma to work under Trump, and the ability to bring funds and votes to a campaign that is struggling against the Democratic Party’s fundraising apparatus.
While Trump won’t announce the winner of the competition this weekend, this is a crucial test for who will rise and who gets “fired” from the running mate list.
The possible VP contenders expected to attend the Florida retreat include Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and J.D. Vance (R-OH), Govs. Doug Burgum (R-ND) and Kristi Noem (R-SD), and Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Byron Donalds (R-FL).
Donalds expects Trump to make his decision closer to the Republican National Committee convention in mid-July and dismissed the idea that the process has had an “Apprentice-style” quality to it.
“I think the reality is, because our primary process ended so fast, that’s the only real thing to talk about,” he told the Washington Examiner of the veepstakes buzz.
Rumors about Trump’s running mate have popped up in the media since before the GOP primary ended due to Trump’s wide advantage over his rivals.
Rubio, a fellow Floridian who was also a vice presidential contender in 2016, downplayed the competitive nature of the gathering.
“It’s not unusual to invite allies to come speak up in front of those groups,” Rubio said. “That’s what happens at these donor retreats. He’s doing the same thing every other presidential candidate has done.”
However, when the candidates gather this weekend, they’ll face an even tougher pressure cooker moment to prove their worth.
“I think largely for all these guys and gals this is an opportunity for them to kind of showcase what it looks like in front of donors, [their] interaction with donors, and kind of show off their ability to raise money,” said a Republican strategist who will attend the retreat. “This is first and foremost a donor retreat that’s obviously a top priority for the Trump campaign as well as is raising money.”
Another top quality Trump will be looking for in his running mate is loyalty, along with the ability to act as an attack dog for Trump as he battles 88 federal charges across four criminal cases.
“To some extent, some of them feel that the way to Trump’s heart is to do his bidding,” said Joel Goldstein, a vice presidential scholar at Saint Louis University. “So that’s what he’s really energizing. He has half a dozen [to] a dozen of these people who were getting more visibility and who are incentivized to be sort of stronger in their critiques.”
Many contenders — Scott, Burgum, Stefanik, Donalds, and Noem — have appeared on the campaign trail with Trump, often denigrating those he dislikes.
Scott appeared in New Hampshire and his home state of South Carolina, where he repeatedly called for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to drop out of the GOP primary. The remarks from Scott earned him high praise from Trump, who singled him out continuously when asked about a potential running mate.
The South Carolina senator is among many Republicans who have pushed back against the Trump trials, slamming them as election interference.
But Scott isn’t guaranteed the slot. Burgum has reportedly risen among the ranks, though some GOP experts are not sold he will get Trump’s seal of approval.
