Ex-Trump campaign aide suggests Melania could decide Trump’s running mate

A past campaign advisor to former President Trump suggested former first lady Melania Trump could play a significant part in who Trump chooses as his running mate.

David Urban mentioned Melania when asked Friday by CNN’s Erin Burnett who he thought would “have the most sway” over the former president’s VP pick. The CNN host noted that business mogul Rupert Murdoch, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and Fox News anchor Sean Hannity are among those who have weighed in with their preferences.

“Melania Trump. His wife! I’d like to know who Melania likes, right. That’s really, probably his closest advisor,” Urban told Burnett, who cited Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) among the top contenders vying for the VP slot.

The former first lady has “great deal of influence over her husband,” Urban noted in comments highlighted by Mediaite, adding that she “has been in these people’s presence” and therefore can make educated suggestions about her husband’s best running mate.

“It will be interesting to see who she likes,” Urban said.

Beyond Vance, Burgum and Rubio, other top contenders for the vice presidential slot reportedly include Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

Talk of who might be Trump’s running mate has increased as the upcoming Republican National Convention draws near. Trump said earlier this month that he would likely announce his vice presidential pick at the July convention in Milwaukee.

In 2016, then-candidate Trump announced former vice president Mike Pence as his running mate days before the convention.