Summary and Key Points: Donald Trump is expected to announce his vice presidential running mate at the upcoming GOP convention, with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) being a potential candidate.

-While the likelihood of MTG being selected is low, she presents both pros and cons for Trump's campaign. MTG, a staunch MAGA Republican, aligns with Trump's anti-establishment rhetoric and is known for her loyalty, a key trait for Trump after his fallout with Mike Pence.

-However, she lacks political experience and conventional intelligence, making her less appealing compared to other potential candidates. Additionally, her similarities to Trump may not expand the ticket's appeal.

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is expected to announce his vice presidential running mate at the upcoming GOP convention. Trump’s estrangement from two-time pick Mike Pence has left a vacuum on the GOP ticket, with several viable candidates elbowing their way into consideration. One prospective candidate is Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Marjorie Taylor-Greene for Vice President?

The statistical likelihood that Trump picks MTG to join the ticket is low, but let’s consider the pros and cons from Trump’s perspective.

Pro #1: MTG is a bona fide MAGA Republican.

Trump has maintained a vigilant wariness of establishment, or mainstream, Republicans – guys like Mitt Romney, who still question the merits of following a Trump-like candidate. Trump famously came to office in 2016 vowing to “drain the swamp,” meaning clear Washington, D.C., of the establishment types. Trump proceeded to appoint a Cabinet of establishment types, but he has maintained rhetorical consistency, admonishing the establishment, for over eight years. Selecting MTG, a legitimate MAGA conservative, would be consistent with Trump’s pro-MAGA, anti-establishment rhetoric.

Pro #2: Marjorie Taylor Greene is loyal.

Trump’s demand of absolute loyalty is well-documented, and will likely be heightened after the perceived betrayal of Mike Pence.

“What we know is that Donald Trump wants an enabler. He doesn't want a governing partner. He doesn't want another Mike Pence, and I think that is clear,” Vice President Kamala Harris told Politico. “The litmus test is, are they going to be absolutely loyal to Trump over country or their oath of office, or, frankly, the American people?”

I’m not in the habit of relying on Kamala Harris for political advice or insights, but I think she’s correct here: Trump will want a loyal VP. MTG fits the bill.

Con #1: Trump has objectively better options.

The field of prospective vice presidents is deep. Doug Burgum. Tim Scott. J.D. Vance. Elise Stefanik. Ben Carson. Kristi Noem was in the running before she admitted to murdering her puppy, and who knows, may still be an option in Trump’s mind. 

The names on Trump’s VP shortlist enjoy advantages over MTG with respect to the metrics that typically govern something like a VP selection process. Or rather, MTG suffers from disadvantages. For one, MTG is not very experienced.

She has a few years under her belt as a representative – hardly the sort of resume that lands someone in the White House. The last time a representative went to the White House was Gerald Ford, but he’d been serving for decades.

More damning than the lack of experience, however, is MTG’s lack of conventional intelligence; Marjorie Taylor Greene does not appear to have the smarts necessary for higher office.

Granted, I haven’t met or corresponded with MTG, and maybe I’m not qualified to judge regardless – but my strong impression is that MTG lacks the cognitive hardware to run a country from atop the executive branch.  

Con #2: MTG may be redundant with Trump.

Typically, Vice Presidential running mates are selected, in part, because they can address a vulnerability of the top candidate, or they can expand the appeal of the ticket. MTG does neither. She is a flamethrowing MAGA Republican from the Southeastern United States – very much like Trump, who should lean toward a running mate who can offer the ticket geographical and/or temperamental diversity.

In sum, Marjorie Taylor Greene is a longshot option for Trump’s VP pick.   

About the Author: Harrison Kass 

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

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