In a recent interview, Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina declined to speculate on whether he would have certified the 2020 election results, had he been Vice President at the time. This marks a divergence from other prominent Trump allies, who are being considered for the Vice Presidential nomination in 2024.
“I’m not going to answer hypothetical questions,” Scott told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.” He added, “What I’m actually more interested in is not my future, but the future of America.” Scott, who has been hinted at by Trump as a potential Vice Presidential pick, emphasized his focus on the prospects of underprivileged children in America.
Scott’s evasion of the question contrasts with the stance of other potential Trump running mates, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio. Both have stated they would not have certified the 2020 election results, despite the lack of evidence supporting claims of fraud.
As Trump deliberates over his potential Vice Presidential pick for the GOP, Republican lawmakers are attempting to curry favor with the former president by echoing unfounded allegations about the 2020 election. Despite this, Scott, who voted to certify the 2020 election in the Senate, reiterated his stance, stating, “I have not changed my view.”
Scott also diverged from Trump in his response to the death of jailed Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny, labeling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “murderous dictator.” While Trump refrained from commenting directly on Navalny’s death, Scott used the opportunity to portray Trump as a stronger contender against Putin than President Joe Biden.
“We need strong leadership coming from America that actually pushes back against Russia and other dictators. Unfortunately, Joe Biden is not up for that charge, and Donald Trump is,” Scott told Tapper.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Jack Forrest, Melanie Zanona, and Annie Grayer.