Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson said on Monday that he didn’t spill the beans on who is on the short list to be Donald Trump’s running mate and that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee is the only one who knows for sure the candidates being seriously considered.
“We’re not going to reveal anybody who’s on the short list. Only Donald knows for sure who’s being seriously considered. We’ve talked about it,” Mr. Carson said on Fox Business Network.
A Washington Post story published over the weekend had Mr. Carson appearing to confirm Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as “all people on our list.”
Mr. Carson, a former 2016 GOP rival of Mr. Trump’s, has been helping with the presumptive Republican nominee’s vice presidential search.
“Basically, what I was saying is I’m not going to tell you, so any name you throw out, yeah, I’m going to say, ’Sure, we’ll consider that person.’ It doesn’t mean they’re on the short list or a serious consideration,” Mr. Carson said Monday on CNN’s “New Day” when asked about the report.
The story now includes an update with similar comments from Mr. Carson to that effect.
Mr. Trump himself pushed back via Twitter, saying that “Marco Rubio and most others mentioned are NOT under consideration.”
Asked on CNN if he personally would accept such an invitation, Mr. Carson said: “This is something that is extremely undesirable to me — as is any government post, quite frankly.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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