Donald Trump: Ted Cruz As Vice President Is ‘Something We Can Think About’

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee, Donald Trump, said on Wednesday that he’s open to choosing Texas senator Ted Cruz as his running mate before July’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

Speaking to Bill O’Reilly on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor, Trump seemed at peace with Cruz, despite their at times bitter and personal exchanges during the campaign.

“I respect Ted,” Trump said about his former main competition for the GOP nomination. “He was a very strong competitor. He really competed hard and tough.”

After sweeping all five states during Super Tuesday on April 26, Trump put significant distance between himself and Cruz for a the nomination. Per the New York Times, Trump received at least 54 percent of the vote in each state of the five states, topping out at 64 percent in Rhode Island.

The stinging loss didn’t seem to deter Cruz’s desire to be the GOP nominee. At a rally in Indianapolis the following day, he revealed Carly Fiorina to be his pick for vice president — becoming the first 2016 presidential candidate to name a running mate. Days prior to that announcement, Cruz and Governor John Kasich revealed their intentions to team up and prevent Trump from securing the nomination on the first ballot.

Wow, just announced that Lyin’ Ted and Kasich are going to collude in order to keep me from getting the Republican nomination. DESPERATION!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 25, 2016

Cruz and Kasich were both mathematically eliminated from securing the 1,237 required delegates to become the outright nominees. With both Trump and Cruz campaigning heavily in Indiana, Cruz needed a victory to stay alive in the race.

However, when the results of the Indiana primary showed that Trump won with over 53 percent of the vote, Cruz decided to bow out of the campaign.

“Tonight, I’m sorry to say, it appears that path has been foreclosed,” Cruz said in front of a crowd of supporters in Indiana. “Together, we left it all on the field in Indiana.”

BREAKING: @TedCruz to drop out of GOP race for president: https://t.co/0Yb3VKZ29q pic.twitter.com/OQlYUosQ27

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 4, 2016

In the days leading up to Cruz’s decision, he vehemently attacked Trump, telling CNN that he’s a serial philanderer, pathological liar, and a narcissist. Despite the vicious remarks, Trump appears to hold no resentment or bitterness toward the man he referred to as “Lyin’ Ted.”

“He’s certainly a capable guy,” Trump said about Cruz possibly being his vice president. “It’s something we can think about.”

Former presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is helping Trump pick a running mate, as The Inquisitr reported. “The Donald” said that Carson has undertaken that job because he’s not eyeing the job of VP for himself.

Governor Kasich suspended his campaign on Wednesday. He was a distant third behind Trump and Cruz, and with his bowing out, the presumptive nominee is official in all but name.

John Kasich plans to drop out of the 2016 presidential race. Watch live???? https://t.co/mJt5gbXS6b https://t.co/S8JJH8geVp

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 4, 2016

Trump admits that Kasich is a possible candidate for the position but is still reluctant to give any concrete indication about whom he will choose.

“I would certainly consider him,” Trump said. “During the debates I’d always find myself talking to John. I’ve had a good relationship with him, so we’ll see how that turns out.

“I don’t want to talk too much about it as I am considering a couple of people. We do have a lot of candidates who would be very, very good.”

[Featured Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]