Trump Begins to Sour on 'Spotlight Hound' Kari Lake for VP

[Celerity]

Trump advisers say Kari Lake has been losing her footing with the former president because, in his eyes, she always wants attention.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-begins-to-sour-on-spotlight-hound-kari-lake-for-vp



When the annual Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll was taken this year, Kari Lake handily came in first to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick. It hasn’t gone so well for Lake since. The failed Arizona governor candidate has stumbled repeatedly, both with MAGA diehards and with the one person who matters most in the decision: Trump himself. And it’s with Trump aides that Lake has particularly lost her footing. “She’s a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever she has to do to get it,” a Trump adviser told The Daily Beast.

This adviser added that, in recent months, Trump has been less enthusiastic about Lake himself. Two Trump advisers who spoke to The Daily Beast said the heart of Trump’s frustration with Lake is that, in his eyes, she always wants attention. As one of the advisers put it, she’s a “spotlight hound.” While Lake does check off the running-mate box of being an extremely “loyal” backer of Trump, her ability to outshine the ex-president might just be her downfall. One of the two Trump advisers, who has spoken with Trump about the matter, said the former president doesn’t appreciate Lake “running around saying she should be VP.” “Tells you all you need to know that he did not make her his national spokeswoman,” the same adviser added. “She was an obvious choice.”

A third Trump adviser, who has likewise spoken to Trump about the matter, said they believe Trump “sees through her gambit for the vice presidency.” “You don’t have to be a wizard to figure that out,” this source continued. “She is a woman that knows what she wants and knows how to get it.” A Trumpworld operative agreed. “I think she is an effective surrogate, but I’m not sure she will be a VP pick,” this operative close to the Trump campaign said, suggesting instead that Lake could be a press secretary in a future administration. “But who knows?” they added. A spokesperson for Lake chalked up the drama to “pathetic attempts from Team DeSantis” to divide Trump from his biggest supporters. “MAGA world is more United [sic] than ever and ready to win big in 2024,” this spokesperson said.

But it’s not DeSantis operatives who say Lake is starting to overstay her welcome—it’s Trump’s own people. One Trump adviser pointed to a recent headline from People magazine that alleged the MAGA firebrand spends more time at Mar-a-Lago than Trump’s wife, Melania. “Kari Lake is there all the time,” a source told the publication. “There’s a suite there that she practically lives in.” A Trump spokesperson did not return The Daily Beast’s requests for comment on this story. Publicly, Lake has sidestepped questions on the possibility of being Trump’s running mate. “I don't think President Trump needs a vice president,” she said. “He is that powerful as a leader, he doesn’t really need anyone.” Her over-the-top adoration aside, Trump has continued to publicly support Lake. Trump apparently doesn’t ding her too much for her loss in the Arizona governor race, with one adviser saying Trump views Lake’s defeat as “similar” to his—with election fraud to blame.

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[Johnny2X2X]

1. That's too bad

And I'm not being sarcastic, Lake would have made his ticket even easier to beat.

[underpants]

2. He's so STRONG he doesn't need a VP.

There’s just that Constitution thing but hey if Trump were to win we won’t be paying much attention to that anyway.

You are just supposed to stand there and smile hon. Just like Pence did.

[PCIntern]

12. Well hell, he's gonna live to 200....

So there.

[2naSalit]

21. He's so STRONG...

Yeah, but smell isn't everything.

[Qutzupalotl]

3. If Donald Trump calls you an attention hound, you know it's bad.

There can be only one.

[liberalla]

29. My thought exactly! He doesn't want competition for the spotlight!

[dalton99a]

4. "She tried very, very hard to audition"

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. Too bad Orange Loser Man....

While ugly in character inside and out, Qari Lake is easier on the eyes.

She is an attention hound. There can be only one to dog in Trump world. And it ain't her.

[Ocelot II]

6. TFG doesn't like sharing spotlights.

Lake is Palin on steroids.

[ShazzieB]

23. Exactly!

His running mate has to be someone who will stay in the shadows, hanging on Trump's every word and gazing at him adoringly, like Pence. Kari Lake is NOT that person.

[yonder]

7. I'm not counting on her or anyone having an opportunity to share

the ticket with the current repub front runner.

[gratuitous]

8. Room for only one in that spotlight, Kari

All of these off-the-record comments and snipes are someone's attempt to pry Lake off the hull of the SS Trumptanic.

[UTUSN]

9. Hah! Can *her* turning on *him* be far behind?! - extra butter on the popcorn, please/ty

[Swede]

10. Irony:"She's a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever she has to do...

“She’s a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever she has to do to get it,” a Trump adviser told The Daily Beast.

[ChazInAz]

22. And transparent.

She knows TDFG would have a high chance of dying during his next reign, and that would make her La Sublima Suprema.
A shuddersome thought.

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. So the psycho peach (MTG) still has a shot.

She's crude! She's crass! And she's ignorant as hell!

Just the way Donwuld likes 'em.

[Lonestarblue]

14. She isn't pretty enough and doesn't look enough like Ivanka for him to give her a second look.

[tanyev]

15. Also a spotlight hound, though.

[ShazzieB]

26. Just what I was going to say!

I agree with Lonestarblue, also. Marge isn't not nearly pretty enough for him.

[Vinca]

13. Apparently, Kari's book bombed which means she's a loser.

[ThoughtCriminal]

16. Only one "shameless, ruthless demagogue" allowed!

“She’s a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever she has to do to get it,” a Trump adviser told The Daily Beast.

[DFW]

17. Two thoroughly useless publicity addicts on the same ticket

What could possibly go wrong?

(Well, other than everything, that is).

[LiberalFighter]

18. He doesn't want a Sarah Palin for his VP?

[GoodRaisin]

19. Trump wants to be "ruler for life".

Someone who is lawless like he is could help make it happen for him (imagine if Lake had been VP instead of Pence).

Although I doubt he would pick an attention hog like Lake. He wants all the attention on himself.

[Mblaze]

20. Lake may know what she wants

But she certainly doesn’t know how to get it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

24. Fuck those two

[SleeplessinSoCal]

25. Look over your shoulder...

S/he’s a shameless, ruthless demagogue who wants power and will do whatever s/he has to do to get it,” a Trump adviser

[jcgoldie]

27. C'mon donnie, kari lake would've never let a little thing like the constitution...

… stand in her way like mother’s boy did!

[Liberal In Texas]

28. I don't think she'll be his VP nom because she isn't "Babe" enough.

Her hair is way too short and wouldn't be to his liking.

I'm thinking Noem has more chance. Has more of the "Babe" factor.

[Cha]

30. Haha! "Don't try to HOG

the spotlight it's All MINE!

lol at the Domestic Terrorist "doesn't need a VP."

[Blue Owl]

31. His male gaze has turned to a Big Mac