Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura said he hopes Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination — and consider him for vice president.
“I shocked my staff today,” he said on his online video show “Off the Grid” on Tuesday. “I said, ‘You know what? As far as the Republicans are concerned, I hope Trump wins on the Republican side.’ Now, I’m not a Republican — I’m not a Democrat, either — so ultimately, I’d like somebody else to win overall.”
Ventura was talking with former Trump adviser Roger Stone, who parted with the Trump campaign on Saturday. Stone has said he quit the campaign, but the campaign said he was fired. Stone, however, is continuing to advocate for Trump.
“I still support Donald Trump very strongly,” Stone told Ventura.
Ventura turned the conversation to discussing who Trump might choose as his VP.
“Roger, let’s have some fun, though, for a moment. Let’s say hypothetically, Donald Trump somehow triumphs. Who do you think he should pick for his VP?” he asked Stone.
Stone suggested GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson for the ticket because, like Trump, he’s not a former politician.
“He’s a brain surgeon,” Stone said. “He doesn’t come from the world of politics. He’s also a straight talker. I think Trump/Carson would be a very strong ticket. Beyond that, I would try to find someone outside the discipline of politics.”
Ventura said he also wanted to included as an option for VP.
“Roger, that throws me out of the equation because I’m a former governor. Do you think Donald will ever think of asking me?” he asked with a smile.
“I think people view you as an outsider, but Jesse you have to become a registered Republican under the rules of the convention, and I don’t think I could ever get you to do that,” Stone responded.
“Well, it would depend if it was Donald, because he don’t look like a registered Republican to me, either,” Ventura responded.
“Well, he is a great negotiator, Jesse, he may be able to get you to change your mind,” Stone said.
Trump also told the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday that he would not rule out a woman as vice president, either.
“I am all for the concept,” Trump said. But, he added, “it would have to be the right person, and I’m not going to go into who that would be right now.”