Trump joined South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem at a sold-out rally in Rapid City on Friday
Return of mask mandates is ‘blowing my mind’: Gov. Kristi Noem
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reacts to reports of mask mandates being reinstated across parts of the country and discusses former President Trump’s bid for the White House.
Former President Donald Trump has picked up another big name endorsement in his bid to win back the White House from President Biden next year.
Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem threw the weight of her growing national recognition behind Trump.
Former President Donald Trump takes the stage during an organizing event at Fervent Calvary Chapel on July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
TRUMP'S EVENT WITH KRISTI NOEM FUELS 2024 VP PICK SPECULATION
South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, speaks during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally at the Ice Arena at the Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, steps on stage during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally at the Ice Arena at the Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
The appearance of the two politicians joining forces is sparking speculation that Trump may be eyeing Noem as a potential running mate, especially since the endorsement ends speculation of her own presidential ambitions. She had reportedly been considering launching her own presidential bid earlier in the year.
Noem said Thursday during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" that she and Trump has "not discussed it at all" when asked about being his potential vice presidential pick.
Asked in a Fox News Digital interview later Thursday if teaming up with Trump should be seen as a possible screen test or audition for running mate, Noem answered: "I don’t think so."
South Dakota Governor, Kristi Noem, speaks during the South Dakota Republican Party's Monumental Leaders rally at the Ice Arena at the Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
But she's not ruling anything out.
"Yeah. I’d have to consider it," the governor said when asked what she would do if she was offered the job. "I think everybody would have to consider it if they were asked that question. It’s such an important time in our history where we see constitutional freedoms being undermined by leaders across this country almost every day."
Noem joins a number of other Republican governors who have already thrown their support behind Trump months before any votes are set to be cast in the primaries and caucuses, including South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
She is also the latest high-profile endorsement Trump has gotten since his fourth, and most recent indictment on criminal charges. He surrendered to the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia last month on charges related to his alleged effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state.
Fox News' Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.
Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.
