Chris LaCivita Denies Trump's Regrets Over J.D. Vance Selection As Running Mate

In a recent radio show, Chris LaCivita, co-campaign manager for Donald Trump, firmly dismissed claims that Trump regrets selecting Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election. LaCivita's comments came during an appearance on Brian Kilmeade's Fox News radio program, where he labeled the accusations as "100 percent not true." He went on to emphasize that Vance has been a fantastic addition to the campaign.

Trump officially named Vance as his vice-presidential nominee on July 15, a decision that followed months of speculation about the role. Despite this, Vance's approval rating has faced scrutiny, with CNN analyst Harry Enten reporting a net approval rating of minus six points, which contrasts sharply with the average approval ratings of plus 19 points for vice-presidential candidates since 2000. These statistics have raised concerns about Vance's popularity among voters.

Some prominent conservatives, including political commentator Tomi Lahren, have questioned Vance's selection due to past controversies and comments, such as his remarks regarding "childless cat ladies." On Wednesday, the Daily Mail released an article quoting Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House communications director under Trump, stating that Trump is dissatisfied with his choice of Vance. Scaramucci claimed that Trump knows Vance was a poor choice and is expressing frustration internally within the campaign.

During the interview, Kilmeade referenced the Daily Mail's report about Trump's alleged regrets, asking LaCivita about the accuracy of these insider claims. LaCivita vehemently refuted the idea, stating, "No. Zero? None." He noted that Trump and Vance communicate multiple times a day, indicating a positive working relationship. LaCivita concluded that the rumors were simply "fake news," reiterating Vance's crucial role in the campaign.

When pressed for further comment, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung urged media outlets to use LaCivita's full quotes, as they effectively refute the misleading narratives circulating in the press. LaCivita's strong defense of Vance suggests that the campaign remains unified and committed to their strategy moving forward.

Speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists' annual conference in Chicago, Trump reiterated that Vance's selection would have "virtually no impact" on the overall race. He stated, "Historically, the vice president, in terms of the election, does not have any impact. It's all about the presidential pick." Trump emphasized that voters ultimately focus on the presidential candidate rather than the vice-presidential nominee.

Amidst this speculation, attorney Preet Bharara, during her podcast, mentioned that while it is "exceedingly unlikely," there remains a possibility that Trump could replace Vance as his running mate in the 2024 election.

Update 8/15/24 5 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung.