Will JD Vance, other Trump VP hopefuls be at the CNN debate Thursday? What to know

According to Donald Trump, “nobody knows” his vice presidential pick yet, aside from the former president himself.

He teased his pick Saturday at a Philadelphia campaign stop. When asked by NBC News whether he’s decided on his running mate, Trump replied, “In my mind, yeah.”

Those looking for clues about Trump’s VP pick may be able to tune into Thursday’s debate. The former president said that the individual will “most likely” be at the first presidential debate in Atlanta.

“They’ll be there,” Trump continued. “I think we have a lot of people coming.”

'Hillbilly Elegy' to the White House? How JD Vance landed on Trump's VP shortlist

JD Vance, Doug Burgum lead Trump VP shortlist

The race to become Trump’s running mate has seen key GOP figures and relative unknowns jockeying for the position for months, with a shortlist emerging only in the final stretch.

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Sen. Marco Rubio, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have reportedly made the final cut, with Burgum and Vance considered the top two choices. While still in the running, Rubio would have to establish residency outside of Florida due to an electoral voting restriction.

Trump’s senior advisor, Brian Hughes, explained that the main qualifier for Trump’s VP pick is “a strong leader who will make a great President for eight years after his next four-year term concludes. But anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump.”

Vance transitions from Trump critic to big backer

Vance stood behind Donald Trump outside a New York courthouse in May, arms crossed, as the former president complained about his hush money trial.

It was a far cry from the Vance who once suggested Trump could be "America's Hitler" and idealized the example Barack Obama set for American families. But today, it's par for the course: Vance switched gears on Trump ahead of his 2022 Senate bid − which he won with the former president's help − and quickly became part of his inner orbit.

During a 2016 NPR interview, Vance called Trump "noxious" and joked about writing in his dog on the 2016 ballot. He also referred to the former president as "cultural heroin" in a column for The Atlantic that year.

Fast forward to 2022: Vance came around to Trump and managed to land his endorsement in the GOP primary. Democrats and even some Republicans accused Vance of flip-flopping to further his political ambitions. Despite that, he went on to defeat former Rep. Tim Ryan, who called Vance an "a-- kisser" during one of their debates.

Last month, Trump appeared at a Cincinnati lunch discussion with Vance as a "special guest," according to an invitation obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. Attendees committed $50,000 or $100,000 per couple, and the price tag was $250,000 for the host committee.

GOP vice president hopefuls attempt to boost profiles

Other Republican contenders have tried to establish themselves in more unusual ways.

For instance, the seats behind Trump at his Manhattan hush money criminal trial last month acted as a courtroom conveyor belt of VP hopefuls.

Burgum, seen by many as Vance's chief rival for the spot, also has transformed from a Trump skeptic – last year saying that he would not do business with the former real-estate mogul – to a defender of the former president.

Scott has become a major Trump surrogate, but his low-key performances in last year's GOP presidential debates could draw concern about his ability to hold his own against Vice President Kamala Harris.

One potential pick — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem — may have killed her chances by admitting to fatally shooting her dog, which she defended as evidence that she was willing to do “difficult, messy, and ugly” things in politics.

Though Trump has reportedly weeded out many of those candidates, he said his announcement will likely not come until right before or during the Republican National Convention, which will begin on July 15 in Milwaukee.

But for an earlier hint on Trump’s VP pick, tune into the "CNN Presidential Debate," Thursday, June 27, at 9 pm ET on CNN or simulcast on USA TODAY.

David Jackson , Javier Zarracina and Haley BeMiller contributed to the reporting of this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Could Trump's pick for vice president be at the CNN debate Thursday?