Corporate leaders, wealthy donors want a say in Trump's vice presidential pick

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Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event in Freeland, Michigan, U.S. May 1, 2024. Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Former President Donald Trump and people close to him are fielding calls from corporate leaders and wealth donors eager to share who they think Trump should tap for a running mate, according to people familiar with the matter. Ike Perlmutter, a billionaire and former chairman of Marvel Entertainment , told Trump he thinks the former president should choose Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., according to a person briefed on the conversation. Rupert Murdoch has hinted to several friends who move in Trump's social circles that he would be happy with a Republican ticket that included Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, according to sources familiar with the matter. Billionaire Trump backers in the real estate industry have told the former president's advisers that they like Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., according to people who have spoken with them. These were other sources for this story were granted anonymity to recount private conversations. Trump has also reportedly been pitched on Scott by Oracle chairman and Republican megadonor Larry Ellison. A spokesman for Fox, which still handles Murdoch's press requests, declined to comment. A spokesman for Perlmutter did not return requests for comment from CNBC. Some VP shortlisters are being promoted primarily by one or two ultra-powerful backers. But others are more broadly popular with lots of Trump's supporters. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio's popularity was on display last weekend at the Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Fla., where wealthy Republicans gathered for the spring meeting of the Republican National Committee. A person attending the retreat said Rubio was clearly the most desirable speaker for donors to pose for "grip and grin" photos with. Other VP contenders at the weekend meeting included Stefanik, Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. The retreat also included a lunch at Mar-a-Lago with Trump. Populists worry donors Opinions are equally strong among some of Trump's wealthiest supporters about who the former president should not choose to join his ticket. Some major donors have expressed hopes that Trump selects a steady hand, who could help implement critical policy tied to their industries, if the Republicans are elected in November. "I would imagine some of Trump's trade agenda is pretty concerning for many donors, and they would hope for someone there to offer a different perspective to a 10% tariff across the board," said Marc Short, a former chief of staff to Trump's Vice President Mike Pence. This may help to explain why some influential Trump donors are especially wary of Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, according to people close to the Trump campaign. Widely considered a serious contender in the veepstakes, Vance is an Ivy League educated populist who backs higher tariffs and aggressive business regulation. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also has influential detractors. "It's not going to be Vivek," said a Republican lobbyist close to top party officials. Opposition to Ramaswamy runs so deep, said the lobbyist, that some donors have effectively threatened to pull their support for the entire party if the former primary contender is Trump's VP pick. For some Republican National Committee aides, the message on Ramaswamy from donors, the lobbyist said, is "Good Lord. If it's him, I'm out." The money race Other donors are more interested how a running mate could help Trump get elected, than in what a potential vice president might bring to the office. Topping the list of desirable qualities, on this front, is a strong track record of fundraising, said a few of the sources. Trump has struggled to keep up with President Joe Biden's fundraising juggernaut. In March, the former president's campaign raised $15 million, while Biden's reelection campaign brought in $43 million, according to Federal Election Commission records. Rubio, Stefanik, Scott and Burgum have all privately been pitched to Trump as top prospects with close ties to top business leaders. Those ties could bolster Trump's fundraising operation if one of them is chosen as his running mate, according to people familiar with the matter. Burgum could even help to self-fund Trump's campaign, just as he did for his own Republican primary run for president. Rubio, Stefanik and Scott also have their own fundraising networks, and could potentially deliver something even more valuable to the Trump fundraising operation: Fresh donors.