JD Vance, Donald Trump's running mate, suggests the VP pick 'doesn't really matter'

"My attitude is, it doesn't really matter, as much as this is a hit to my ego," Vance said on an episode of the Full Send Podcast on Friday.

• JD Vance has seemingly downplayed the role of a vice presidential nominee.
• Trump has also made similar comments, saying that the nominee doesn't impact elections.
• Kamala Harris is expected to announce her VP pick imminently.

Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 presidential election has said that the role of a vice presidential nominee "doesn't really matter."

Vance made the comment while speaking on an episode of the Full Send Podcast that aired on Friday.

"My attitude is, it doesn't really matter, as much as this is a hit to my ego," Vance said.

"People are going to vote primarily for Donald Trump or for Kamala Harris. That's the way these things go. I think my job over the next few months is to just drive home the message that Kamala Harris has been a bad vice president, she'd be a worse president."

Trump has made similar comments about the role of a vice presidential nominee.

"Historically, the vice president — in terms of the election — does not have any impact. I mean, virtually no impact," Trump said at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago on Wednesday. "Historically, the choice of the vice president makes no difference. You're voting for the president."

But the former president did give out some praise for Vance, saying he was "outstanding in every way."

Vance has nevertheless had a difficult start as Trump's running mate.

Since joining the Trump campaign, Vance has faced backlash over resurfaced clips where he called some Democrats "childless cat ladies" and referred to pregnancies from rape and incest as "inconvenient."

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential VP pick for Kamala Harris, said that it was clear that Trump had "buyer's remorse."

"This guy is not exactly off to a good start and it is clear that Donald Trump really has buyer's remorse with his pick," Shapiro said, per The Hill.

Vice President Kamala Harris is set to carry out final interviews on Sunday to nail down her running mate.

At least three candidates have been invited to meet with Harris — Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, The Washington Post reported, citing multiple people familiar with her plans.