Donald Trump continued to stoke Veep speculation Wednesday night, teasing a crowd in Ohio with praise for Newt Gingrich.
“I’m not saying it’s Newt, but if it’s Newt, no one’s going to be beating him in those debates,” Trump said in Cincinnati of his vice presidential pick. Gingrich appeared with Trump at the rally, and the crowd seemed enthusiastic about his presence, periodically breaking out into chants of “Newt! Newt!”
Trump also said that even if he does not choose Gingrich as his running mate, the former House speaker will have a place in his administration. “In one form or another, Newt Gingrich is going to be involved with our government,” Trump said. “He’s smart, tough. He gets it.”
The presumptive Republican nominee just had one caveat: “Newt’s going to be involved if I get approval from his wife.”
Trump told TIME Wednesday that he will be announcing his vice president “just prior” to the GOP convention in Cleveland.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com