Leaked audio recordings from a private lunch at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida have revealed his deliberations over potential vice-presidential candidates for the 2024 United States presidential election. The audio, which was released by Axios, captured Trump mentioning several politicians as his preferred choices for running mates. Notably, the names discussed included Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, Representative Elise Stefanik, and Senator Tim Scott.

In the recordings, Trump is heard expressing his admiration for Kristi Noem, describing her as a long-time supporter and a favored candidate. Elise Stefanik and Tim Scott were also acknowledged for their abilities and contributions. However, there were indications of Trump expressing reservations about trusting Stefanik, despite publicly praising her capabilities.

Vivek Ramaswamy, another significant figure in the Republican circles, was notably absent from the list of discussed candidates, despite his attendance at the event.

The discussions are part of the preliminaries leading up to the Republican National Convention scheduled for July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is expected to formally announce his chosen running mate as he prepares for the forthcoming election.