Welcome to the online version of From the political officean evening newsletter that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the NBC News Politics team on the campaign trail, the White House and on Capitol Hill.
In today’s edition, we look at Donald Trump’s vice presidential selection process, which is off to a quiet start. Additionally, Chief Washington Correspondent and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell recaps her trip to the Middle East with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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Behind the scenes of the ‘low-key’ search for Trump’s vice president
By Dasha Burns, Henry J. Gomez, Vaughn Hillyard and Jonathan Allen
It was almost two months since he won the Republican nomination, but Donald Trump He appears to be in no rush to nominate a running mate — someone who could maintain a constant presence on the campaign trail while spending much of his time in a courtroom.
The process: Trump’s team has not yet moved beyond the early stages of selecting vice presidential nominees, seven sources familiar with the process said. Leading candidates have not received detailed questionnaires or other requests for information to help finalize a shortlist, although there are signs they are being evaluated for their fundraising prowess.
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Apart from a May 15 event scheduled with Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Trump is not yet hearing potential picks one by one as he did in 2016 in the weeks leading up to Mike Pence’s choice. Many vice presidential candidates will join Trump this weekend in Palm Beach, Fla., for a fundraising retreat which could serve as a screening session.
Even so, “it’s going to be quiet for a while,” a Trump adviser said when asked about the research.
A source familiar with the matter said that while the Trump team has not yet spoken directly with prospects about joining the ticket, the campaign has conducted an initial in-depth analysis of them.
The pretenders : Among those that Trump or others involved in the process have acknowledged are under consideration are the Senators. Marco Rubio from Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina and Vance; The governors. Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Kristi Noem of South Dakota; Representatives Byron Donalds of Florida and Elise Stefanik from New York ; and Ben Carson, the Trump administration’s housing secretary. All but Carson are listed as “special guests” at this weekend’s retreat.
The timing: As always, Trump’s unpredictability poses a wild card, both in terms of the timing of an announcement and which candidates might be added or subtracted from the list. Trump said in an interview with Milwaukee’s WITI-TV that he would choose his vice president “probably not too much before” the Republican National Convention, scheduled for July 15-18.
Trump trial, day 11: Hope Hicks Take the speech
By Adam Reiss, Jillian Frankel, Dareh Gregorian and Lisa Rubin
Former White House communications director Hope Hicks spoke. Trump’s criminal trial in New Yorka tense reunion for…
