Donald Trump has chosen Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, adding political experience and conservative bona fides to his Republican presidential ticket.
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Donald Trump says on Twitter that he is delaying the announcement of his vice presidential announcement following the deadly truck attack in France.
In another interview to Fox News later in the night, Trump said he would ask Congress for a declaration of a war.
According to multiple reports, Trump plans to make Indiana Governor Mike Pence his running mate.
Trump’s frenetic decision-making process was made more complicated by the fact that the businessman was in California Thursday for a series of fundraisers, isolated from almost all of his closest advisers, including his three adult children and his campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
The Trump campaign will officially unveil Mr Trump’s running mate this morning in NY.
“I think he would do good if Trump picked him”, Jennifer Foster said. “But he hasn’t announced it yet”.
But Pence is also a controversial governor, who signed legislation critics say would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Candidates in IN can’t run for both federal and state office after July 15, meaning Pence had to withdraw his name from his re-election race for governor.
Pence had endorsed Texas Senator Ted Cruz over Trump before Indiana’s crucial early May primary -a contest Trump won, knocking Cruz from the contest and clinching the nomination. He heaped praise on Pence and his other two finalists, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Even North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory tweeted his support for Pence, saying he “would be an excellent VP selection”. Pence, an established figure in the Republican Party, is a solidly on-message conservative who fits that bill nicely.
Gingrich, who met Trump on Wednesday, said on a Facebook Live session that he had yet to hear from Trump.
The convention and vice presidential announcement give Trump back-to-back opportunities to reassure Americans – as well as leaders within his own party – that he’s prepared for the presidency.
Pence was already locked in a tough rematch with former State House Speaker John Gregg, in part owing to his falling standing in the state after the religious freedom law controversy.
“We had a great conversation about the country, the challenges facing America, and my firm belief that Donald Trump is going to provide the kind of leadership that America needs”, Pence told reporters today.
“If it is radical Islamic terrorism, it’s about time he said so”.
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Mr Trump told national Republican officials that he had settled on Mr Pence, according to the Republican source, who is familiar with the campaign’s operations.
