Gingrich: Katie Britt’s GOP rebuttal to State of the Union an ‘audition’ for Trump VP list

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said that Sen. Katie Britt’s (R-Ala.) rebuttal to President Biden’s State of the Union address is an opportunity to cast herself as another option to be former President Trump’s vice presidential pick. 

Gingrich said that if the Alabama freshman senator “rises to the occasion,” she could insert herself on Trump’s list of potential running mates. 

“What’s equally interesting is that Senator [Katie] Britt — who is the new freshman senator from Alabama, and who some very smart people believe will be Trump’s vice presidential pick — she has her big audition that night because she’s going to deliver the response to Biden,” Gingrich told radio host John Catsimatidis in a Sunday interview on “The Cats Roundtable” on WABC 770 AM.

“It will be interesting to see if Britt rises to the occasion. If she does, it will be a major step up in her potentially being Trump’s vice presidential candidate.”

In a Thursday post, Britt announced that she was chosen to give the GOP response to Biden’s speech slated for next Thursday, saying she was “truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to speak directly to my fellow Americans.”

The Alabama senator was sworn into the upper chamber last year, becoming the first woman to represent her state in the Senate. She replaced former Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) who served six terms. Britt was also endorsed by Trump during her 2022 midterm race.

If Britt is in the running to be potentially considered as the former president’s VP pick, she would be in contention with a cadre of other GOP lawmakers. 

Trump confirmed names on his VP shortlist two weeks ago. He listed some of his former GOP presidential rivals and current Republican lawmakers. 

The former president is considering Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. 

Gabbard expressed willingness to be Trump’s running mate on Friday, saying she “would be open to that.”