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Trump confirms Pence will be running mate in 2020

Trump and Pence
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump confirmed on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that Vice President Mike Pence will "100%" be on his ticket again in 2020.

Why it matters: In an interview with "Fox & Friends" last week, Trump made headlines by declining to directly endorse Pence as his successor in 2024, telling the hosts: "You can't put me in that position." Trump explained to NBC's Chuck Todd that he hesitated to answer because "it was a surprise question" and the election is "so far out."

The exchange:

CHUCK TODD: Speaking of driving people crazy, when you were asked about Mike Pence in 2024 and you, and you, and you paused a minute about endorsing him as your successor, that got a lot of people going, "Is Mike Pence 100% on your ticket in 2020?"

TRUMP: Well, look, look -- 100%, yes.

TODD: 100%?

TRUMP: Oh yeah.

TODD: There is no wiggle room?

TRUMP: He's been, he’s been a terrific vice president. He's my friend and --

TODD: Ok.

TRUMP: -- a lot of things. No. Zero. Zero.

TODD: So why'd you hesitate in endorsing him in being, succeeding you?

TRUMP: Because it was a surprise question.

TODD: You hadn’t thought about it?

TRUMP: I mean, you know, I’m not even thinking of it. It's so far out. I mean, It's so far out. That would be the only reason. Now what happens in 2024? I don't know that Mike is going to run. I don't know who's running or anything else.

Mike Pence