Trump floats Abbott as VP pick
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Gov. Greg Abbott is “absolutely” on his list of potential running mates after touring the state’s border security operations in Eagle Pass on Thursday.
“Certainly he would be somebody that I would very much consider,” Trump said of Abbott, who he said has “done a great job” and is a “spectacular man.”
Trump, the likely GOP presidential nominee, made the comments during a joint appearance with Abbott on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show. Hannity asked Trump if he would consider Abbott as vice president.
“I’ve been hearing that more and more from friends of mine,” Trump said. “After the show, I think I’m going to hear it a lot more, too.”
On Friday, Abbott said his focus is “entirely on the state of Texas.”
“Obviously it’s very nice of him to say,” Abbott said, when asked about Trump’s comments during an unrelated press conference. “As you know, I’m working right now on the midterm election process. I’ve already talked about, that I’ve announced that I’m running for reelection two years from now. And so my commitment is to Texas, and I’m staying in Texas.”
The show was taped after the former president toured Shelby Park, a stretch of border Texas seized in January for its border operations. The public park has been the site of a standoff between Abbott and the Biden administration, as state soldiers have prevented Border Patrol agents from apprehending and processing migrants there. Trump praised Texas’ efforts to crack down on migrant crossings and compared the situation at the Mexican border to a “war.”
President Joe Biden also visited the Texas border Thursday. After meeting with federal immigration authorities and local leaders in Brownsville, Biden urged Trump to “join” him in calling on Congress to pass a bipartisan proposal aimed at curbing crossings. Trump was a big part of killing the proposal, which he rallied Republicans against, saying the bill would deliver Biden an election year victory.