Hawley says he’s not interested in being vice president even if Trump asks in 2024

Sen. Josh Hawley on Thursday threw cold water on rumors that he would be a potential vice presidential candidate for former President Donald Trump in 2024.

Though Hawley said he believes former President Donald Trump will likely be his party’s nominee in 2024, the Missouri Republican said he has no interest in serving as vice president and would turn down the offer if he was asked.

“Nobody wants to be vice president,” Hawley said.

A report in the conservative outlet the Daily Caller earlier this month said a Republican consultant close with Trump said not enough people were talking about Hawley as a potential vice presidential nominee. When The Star pointed out that it worked for Theodore Roosevelt — a president Hawley studied and wrote a book about — Hawley brought up Vice President Kamala Harris, a former senator who has faced scrutiny during her term as vice president.

“Good argument,” Hawley said. “I thought you were going to say Kamala Harris. How has that worked out?”

There is a long history of former vice presidents ascending to the presidency, stretching from the first vice president, John Adams, to President Joe Biden. In total, 15 former vice presidents have later become president. Eight of them took office after the president died, while one, Gerald Ford, became president after former President Richard Nixon resigned.

Hawley has long been rumored to harbor presidential ambitions, but has passed on a 2024 presidential bid to run for reelection to the Senate in Missouri.

That hasn’t stopped other candidates looking to challenge Trump. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has formally announced her campaign and Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, has launched an exploratory committee. Both former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are also expected to launch their own campaigns.

While Hawley has not endorsed in the race, he appeared skeptical that any of the candidates would be able to defeat Trump for the nomination.

“I’m just listening to what people say at home and what voters say,” Hawley said. “I just think after the Manhattan DA went after him the way he did, I just think he’s gonna be the nominee. I don’t think there’s any question about it.”