MILWAUKEE — Former President Donald Trump weighed choosing Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate before ultimately selecting Sen. JD Vance as his pick for vice president on Monday, a source familiar with his deliberations told The Post.
A Trump campaign staffer also confirmed Monday the top three candidates were Vance (R-Ohio), Rubio (R-Fla.) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — who had been reported as the top contenders for weeks.
In his final decision, Trump chose Vance in part because he couldn’t get over the “hurdle” of Rubio’s residency issue, the source familiar said, as both men live in Florida.
“The president just couldn’t get over the residency issue, just because of the legal issues that would inevitably come … There was just a conversation of ‘Alright, if that’s a hurdle we can’t get over, then understood,’” the source added.
Because Trump and Rubio are from the same state, constitutionally they could not have both been on the ticket unless one changed their address.
Trump announced he chose Vance as his VP pick just hours into the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee – and two days after he was shot by a gunman at his Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.
“I don’t know when he made the decision, but the calls went out (Monday),” the Trump campaign staffer said. “All three of the candidates were incredible and the entire pool of candidates from the onset were just very strong.”
“I know Vance is obviously very well respected … He has an incredible background. He’s just very hard working and a huge defender of the president. I have not spoken to the the president today about the decision — the so many incredible qualities of JD Vance is why he was chosen,” the staffer added.
At just 39, Vance will be the second-youngest vice president in American history if elected with Trump in November.
Republicans told The Post they thought Trump choosing Vance was a way to solidify his movement beyond 2024.
“This pick is about one thing and one thing only: Solidifying Trump’s political legacy,” a source close to the RNC said. “This is a passing of the torch. JD Vance has become the heir apparent to succeed Trump as leader of the populist, national-conservatism movement that has dominated the Republican Party for the last nine years.”
“If Trump and Vance win in November, we can also call the 2028 race for the Republican nomination. It’s inconceivable that a Vice President Vance as President Trump’s heir apparent wouldn’t clear the field of any potential opponents. There would be no path for any other Republican to defeat him,” the source added.
Republican strategist John Thomas agreed: “Trump double downed on MAGA with this pick while simultaneously announcing the future of the movement after Trump finishes his term. There is no more fierce and articulate defender of Trump and his vision than Senator Vance.”
“Vance will be a strong attack dog to send out and defend trump in front of the media as the campaign reaches the home stretch,” he added