Melania Trump wants husband Donald Trump to tap Tucker Carlson for VP: report 

Melania Trump is pushing for her husband to pick Tucker Carlson as his 2024 running mate if he secures the Republican nomination for president, according to a report. 

The former first lady believes the ex-Fox News host would be a “powerful onstage extension” of her husband, former President Donald Trump, according to Axios. 

But there is stiff competition, as Trump, 77, is also considering more politically experienced candidates for the No. 2 post — such as Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), according to the outlet. 

Kari Lake, who lost her 2022 bid to be Arizona’s Republican governor and is now running for US Senate in the state, is also among the “loyalist”-types that Trump is reportedly considering for vice president. 

Despite being Melania’s preferred choice, the former president’s staff and people close to him reportedly fear that Carlson would “outshine” Donald Trump and that the talk show host “can’t be controlled,” according to Axios. 

A Trump campaign aide told The Post that Trump isn’t looking past the GOP primary elections and denied Axios’ report.  

“The Axios story is pure fiction,” the aide said. “Unless there is a formal announcement from President Trump or his campaign team, then it’s just speculation and not coming from us. President Trump is solely focused on winning the Republican nomination and then defeating Crooked Joe Biden in the general election.”

The report further claimed that former Trump administration officials Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon, John McEntee, Jeffrey Clark (one of Trump’s co-defendants in the Georgia 2020 election interference case), Ric Grenell, John Ratcliffe and Jared Kushner are also in the mix to fill out key White House roles and Cabinet posts. 

“That list may never come true, but it’s a type of person that fully understands President Trump’s policies … that understands President Trump’s resolve and direction,” Bannon, who briefly served as Trump’s chief strategist in the White House, said of the Axios report. 

“There’s no middle ground. It’s either us or them, but one side is going to win and one side is going to lose. No compromise,” he added, arguing in support of Trump filling his potential second-term administration with people who believe the 2020 presidential election was stolen.