Trump Addresses Rumors of Former Cabinet Officials Running in 2024

President Trump responded to rumors that some of his former cabinet officials may consider a presidential run in 2024.

“Many of them have said they would never run if I run, so we’ll see if that turns out to be true,” Trump said Friday during a brief phone interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade.

Trump noted that he is leading in GOP primary polls looking ahead to 2024.

He also said it would be “very disloyal” if former Vice President Mike Pence or other members of his former Cabinet sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

From The Hill:

Trump boasted that “the polls have me leading by 40, 50 points” and said he would decide on whether to pursue another presidential bid “in the not-too-distant future.”

The former president has not said whether he intends to run, but has openly flirted with seeking a return to the White House.

Most polls show Trump as the clear favorite to reclaim the Republican nomination if he were to run, but several other high-profile Republicans like Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, among others, are also reportedly considering a bid for the White House.

Earlier this week, Pence took several swipes at Trump, warning conservatives against veering too far toward “unprincipled populism” during a speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Trump is leading the 2024 GOP primary by 33 points, according to the Real Clear Politics average.

A recent Harvard/Harris Poll found Trump leading the primary by 38 points.

When asked if he would support Trump in 2024, Mike Pence would not commit to supporting Trump if he sought another presidential bid.

NBC News added:

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday appeared to hold back from supporting Donald Trump if the former president were to run again in 2024 and become the Republican nominee.

“Well, there might be somebody else I’d prefer more,” Pence said at a Georgetown University event late Wednesday when asked if he would support Trump if he is the GOP nominee for president.

“What I can tell you is, I have every confidence that the Republican Party is going to sort out leadership,” Pence continued. “All my focus has been on the midterm elections, and it’ll stay that way for the next 20 days. But after that, we’ll be thinking about the future, ours and the nation’s, and I’ll keep you posted.”

Trump has not announced a presidential bid, but he told New York magazine in July, “In my own mind, I’ve already made that decision.”

Pence’s remarks are the latest possible indication that he’s considering a run for president himself. He appeared to edge closer to confirming plans for a 2024 run during a New Hampshire Institute of Politics “Politics & Eggs” event last August.