Michael Flynn appears to exit Donald Trump veepstakes
Retired Lt. General Michael Flynn, who briefly served as national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, signaled he’s not in contention to be Trump’s running-mate in the 2024 presidential election.
“Hope not, I’m spending time with my grandchildren,” Flynn posted Thursday morning on X, in a reply to a Raw Story post.
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Flynn’s response was prompted by a Raw Story article about a filing with the Federal Election Commission — confirmed to be fictitious — that indicated Donald Trump has selected Flynn as his vice presidential running mate. Trump campaign treasurer Bradley Crate told Raw Story the filing was a “fraud.”
Flynn is not generally believed to be among the people under serious consideration to serve as Trump’s running mate and vice president.
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That list includes Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.
But among some of the more extreme elements of Trump’s MAGA base, Flynn’s loyalty to Trump and military background — coupled with his experience as a target of federal prosecution — make him an appealing potential running mate for Trump, who is himself mired in multiple criminal and civil legal proceedings.
Patrick Byrne, the former Overstock.com CEO who has been working alongside Flynn since the 2020 election, wrote on X earlier this month: “The only way Trump wins is if he makes Flynn his VP candidate. Flynn knows how to spring Trump from prison.”
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Byrne said he respected half of those thought to be under serious consideration for the role, but added, “Trump’s going to be sitting in jail. The world is at war and we need a General.”
Trump and Flynn have remained in touch since Trump left the White House on Jan. 20, 2021, particularly when Trump has faced some of his most serious legal peril.
Flynn was on a “Pastors for Trump National Prayer Call” in March 2023, shortly before Trump was indicted in Manhattan for falsifying business records related to the Stormy Daniels hush-money affair.
Earlier this year, a jury found Trump guilty of all 34 charges in the case, and he is scheduled for sentencing on July 11 — four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Also in March 2023, Trump called into a ReAwaken America Tour stop at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami and told Flynn: “You have to stay healthy because we’re bringing you back.”