Amid VP speculation, Trump casts doubt on Rubio, Burgum

Former President Donald Trump this week appeared to throw cold water on two of his most high-profile potential running mates during an appearance on Fox News.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance have emerged as the three apparent finalists for the job, with Trump set to make his selection by the Republican National Convention.

During a Fox News appearance on Wednesday, Trump suggested that Burgum's signing of strict abortion ban could present complications for choosing him.

"You know, I think Doug is great. But it is a strong — he’s taken a very strong stance. Or the state has, I don’t know if it’s Doug, but the state has, so it’s an issue," he said. "It’s a pretty strong ban."

Trump himself has called for leaving abortion to the states and espoused support for exceptions to abortion bans in cases of rape, incest, and threats to the life of the mother.

Of Rubio, he said that his status as a Floridian "makes it more complicated." Trump and Rubio both live in Florida, a state that has trended increasingly Republican in recent years.

The timing of the VP announcement remains unclear, but Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller on Monday indicated that "[b]y this time next Monday, we will know who President Trump has selected as his running mate for the 2024 election," during an appearance on Fox News.