Donald Trump will postpone his vice presidential announcement in New York City after a truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France.
The announcement was supposed to take place on Friday at 11 a.m. at the New York Milton Midtown.
Trump has selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate, reports CBS News’ Major Garrett, citing a GOP official close to the process.
Trump’s vice presidential search turned into a head-spinning melodrama Wednesday as candidates vying for the spot hopped on planes and phones to perform frenzied, last-minute try-outs.
For much of the day, Indiana was the unlikely center of the political world — all thanks to a flat tire.
Trump’s plane hit something when it landed Tuesday night, resulting in a popped tire, according to a source familiar with the process. That kept Trump in the state longer than he expected after campaigning with Gov. Mike Pence, setting off a last-minute scramble of high-profile travelers to the Hoosier State as the clock ticked down on his VP decision.
Concerned Trump was unsure and torn about his choice and maybe leaning in a direction they didn’t like, his children — Eric, Don Jr. and Ivanka — hopped on a plane early in the morning to reach him. Trump and his children wound up having breakfast with Pence at the governor’s mansion.
The plane malfunction set off a domino effect with others: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich flew to Indianapolis to meet with Trump on a private jet provided by Fox News host Sean Hannity, two sources with knowledge of the situation told CNN. He was later seen leaving a hotel in the same motorcade as Trump’s children.
Trump spoke to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie over the phone for a conversation that included talk about the vice presidency.
And Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions arrived in Indianapolis to meet with Trump to serve as another adviser as the presumptive GOP nominee makes his final decision on a running mate.
Earlier in the day, a Trump spokesperson said the meetings were held in Indiana to allow Trump more time with Pence.
The process of choosing a vice presidential partner is a crucial one that often provides early insight into how a nominee might approach the presidency.
Most presumptive nominees operate their vice presidential search quest under intense secrecy with potential candidates sneaking to cloak-and-dagger meetings to avoid the press and maintain the element of surprise ahead of the final announcement.
The Indiana governor has credibility with social conservatives who are among the most suspicious of Republican Party constituencies towards Trump.
Trump and Pence met privately before a fundraiser in Indianapolis on Tuesday evening, and then Pence got a try-out at a rally in nearby Westfield. The Trumps and Pences dined together at the Capital Grille in Indianapolis, staying past midnight.
When CNN asked how the breakfast with Pence went on Wednesday, Trump gave a thumbs-up. An adviser said the encounter was “cordial” but added that the billionaire had yet to finalize his decision on a running mate.
At Tuesday’s rally, Pence slammed Clinton, saying that “to paraphrase the director of the FBI, I think it would be ‘extremely careless’ to elect Hillary Clinton as president.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Pence said he was “humbled to be a part” of the process.
