Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Tuesday the top qualification for his vice president pick is whether that person would be "a good president," adding that he's not expecting much of a bump in votes from his choice.
Trump made the comments in an interview with Spectrum News Wisconsin on Tuesday before his 13th day at trial in New York City.
Trump reiterated that his timing of naming a running mate will be "sometime around" the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.
"VPs have never really helped in the election process," Trump told Spectrum. "It's a one-day story, it's a big story, and then it's back to work. They want to really know who's No. 1 on the ticket. The VP, I don't know if any time where VP has greatly enhanced, greatly helped somebody get elected. They just don't. It surprises me, actually, because you would think they would, but they just don't."
Trump said the "most important thing" he's considering is the VP's ability to lead.
"If something should happen to me, when something happens to me, which can happen, you have to make sure that somebody really good is in there to take your place, so that's always got to be the No. 1 criteria," he said.
Trump was asked specifically about the candidacy of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who, according to myriad Republican operatives, has sunk her own VP chances after her controversial new book that details shooting and killing her dog in a gravel pit some years back, among other things.
"I don't want to comment on anybody on the list," Trump said. "But she had a rough couple of days, I will say that."