'I like the concept,' Trump hints at choosing a female running mate for 2024 US Elections

Former US President Donald Trump said that he is open to picking a female running mate for the upcoming 2024 US Presidential elections. During an interview with NBC News, the former US President mentioned that he has not given much thought to the person he’ll choose for the post of Vice President if he gets elected but he insisted that he likes 'the concept' of having a female running mate. In the 2016 US Presidential election, the Mara-lago chief won the race to the White House with Mike Pence by his side. However, the former Vice President is running against Trump in the upcoming elections. Pence’s ties with his former boss soured after the devastating January 6 Capitol riots. 

When asked if he is leaning towards a woman mate, Trump gave an optimistic response. “I like the concept, but we’re going to pick the best person,” the former US President told NBC News. “But I do like the concept, yes,” he replied. Trump went on to state that he tries not to think “too much about it”. “You always do a little bit, but I don’t think it’s time. I want to win,” he avered. During the interview, the former reality TV star also remarked that he is against imposing an age limit for candidates running for President, however, he made it clear that a competency test among the candidates is the need of the hour. 

Speculations of Trump choosing Kristi Noem remain ripe

According to NBC News, Trump’s response came days after speculations started brewing that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem would be selected as the vice presidential candidate. The reports started floating after Noem endorsed Trump at a rally in South Dakota. In the interview, Trump mentioned that he would consider choosing Noem and went on to call her “fantastic”. "She’s been a great governor," the former US President remarked. “She gave me a very full-throated endorsement, a beautiful endorsement. And, you know, it’s been a very good state for me. And certainly, she’d be one of the people I’d consider, or for something else maybe. But we have a lot of people. We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party,” he added. 

Trump pushes for competency test 

The age of the current US President Joe Biden and several other presidential candidates including Trump have been a matter of debate. While the former US President stated that he does not support the imposition of an age limit for candidates running for President, he noted that a competency test is the need of the hour. “You know, I took a test two years ago, three years ago. And as the doctors said — and it was in front of doctors and a whole big deal at Walter Reed [hospital], which is an incredible place. And I aced it. I get everything right. I’m all for testing. I frankly think testing would be a good thing,” Trump asserted. “A lot of people say it’s not constitutional to do it. But I would be for testing, to test to make sure everyone’s just fine,” he concluded.