Rupert Murdoch Wants to Hand-Pick Trump VP, Dreads ‘Kissing Trump’s Ass’ For Four Years – Report

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

Retired media mogul Rupert Murdoch is seeking to okay an active role in who will eventually become Donald Trump’s running mate but is not looking forward to kissing the former president’s “ass,” a new report claims.

Sources close to Trump reportedly told the new, non-profit media outlet NOTUS that although no longer heading the Fox News machine, Murdoch, 93, is seeking an active role in the 2024 presidential race.

NOTUS reported Friday evening that Murdoch is pressuring people within Trump’s inner circle to have him tap Republican North Dakota Governor Doug Bergum as his running mate.

By contrast, per the outlet’s sources, Murdoch loathes Sen. JD Vance (R-OH).

NOTUS Reported:

Sources told NOTUS Friday that Murdoch has been pushing for Burgum — and against Vance — for quite some time now, both over the phone and by dispatching surrogates to Trump in person.

A source close to Trump told NOTUS that Murdoch has been regularly calling the former president — often multiple times a day — to urge him to choose Burgum.

Meanwhile, one person described as a Fox News “communications consultant” reportedly told the outlet Murdoch had been dispatching reporters from The New York Post to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and home to smear Vance and make a case for Bergum:

Murdoch had also sent employees from the New York Post down to Mar-a-Lago to bash Vance and make the case for the North Dakota governor. And the source close to Trump told NOTUS something similar — that Murdoch had sent News Corp executives to meet with the former president to personally make the pitch for Burgum and against Vance.

When Murdoch first embarked on the campaign, it was for “anyone but J.D.,” the source close to Trump said. Murdoch seemed open to both Burgum or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , this person added. But as the veepstakes have intensified over the last couple of weeks, Murdoch has narrowed his focus to Burgum.

The Fox source also reportedly explained to NOTUS the true nature of the relationship between Murdoch and Trump.

“Rupert has always viewed Trump as subservient to him,” the Fperson said. “And it bothers him. He’s not looking forward to another four years where he’ll have to kiss Trump’s ass. They don’t want Trump on Fox, so they get Burgum on there and groom him for the next four years and make him president. That’s his way of ending Trumpism.”

Bergum has been floated as being on Trump’s shortlist for VP.

Others linked to the search are Vance, Rubio, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).