Trump Jr. slated to speak ahead of father's VP choice at convention

Donald Trump Jr. will speak at next week’s Republican convention before his father’s vice presidential pick, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill.

Trump Jr. is a close ally and friend of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), one of the finalists being considered as former President Trump’s running mate. Trump Jr.’s speaking slot is likely to fuel speculation that Vance is the pick.

A source downplayed that Trump Jr.’s speaking time is an indication of who the choice will be, telling The Hill that Trump Jr. has been set to speak on Wednesday of the convention for a few weeks. 

But the former president’s son has made little secret of his preference for his father’s running mate among the finalists of Vance, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

“You know, everyone knows, I’ve sort of been for J.D. Vance,” Trump Jr. said on a recent episode of his podcast.

Trump is expected to make his choice public ahead of the Republican National Convention, which kicks off next Monday, though the former president said he may wait until the convention itself to announce in order to build suspense.

Vance and Rubio said Sunday they had not heard one way or the other about whether they were the pick to join Trump on the ticket. 

Trump is scheduled to hold a rally on Saturday in Butler, Pa., not far from the Ohio border.