Who is Donald Trump's VP pick? Everything to know about the many possibilities
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President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are facing off (again) on Thursday night in the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election.
The debate, hosted by CNN in Atlanta, is earlier than normal, as they usually occur in September and October. The candidates have not yet been formally nominated by their party and Trump has yet to announce his pick for a vice presidential running mate.
The Trump campaign search has already made headlines, as a number of contenders attended Trump's hush money trial in New York and another politician reportedly being considered went viral for admitting she killed her "untrainable" dog.
Trump told NBC News he has decided on a running mate, and they could be in Atlanta for the debate. Here is what to know about Trump's vice presidential candidate search so far:
Debate live updates: How to watch Donald Trump, Joe Biden's presidential showdown on CNN
Who is Trump considering for vice president?
At least 19 names have been floated for Trump's potential running mate:
Trump's VP options: Sizing up their pros and cons from J.D. Vance to Kari Lake
What are the requirements to be vice president?
The vice president needs to be able to step into the president's role if the president is no longer able to serve.
USA TODAY's Washington Bureau chief Susan Page reported that loyalty is a top qualification for Trump's running mate.
Though historically most voters focus on the presidential candidate alone when casting their ballot, vice presidents can help the top ticket candidate appeal to a wider base. For example, former Vice President Mike Pence may have bolstered Trump's standing with white evangelical voters.
Pence was also loyal to Trump, until he wasn't.
What happened with Trump's first VP pick, Mike Pence?
Pence was the former Governor of Indiana. With Trump's reputation as a reality TV star with multiple marriages, Pence brought a better standing among conservative, Evangelical voters.
As vice president from 2017 until 2021, Pence was loyal to Trump. But they dramatically parted ways when Pence refused stray from his duty to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election on January 6, 2021.
Trump took to social media about Pence and the rioters poised to breach the U.S. Capitol began chanting “Hang Mike Pence!”
Pence ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 Republican presidential primary and said he will not endorse Trump for another presidential term over their "profound differences."
Watch the first presidential debate
Tune into the CNN Presidential Debate Simulcast, starting at 9 p.m. ET.
Contributing: Susan Page, David Jackson, Sam Woodward, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Trump's 2024 VP pick be in Atlanta for the presidential debate?
