Rubio: I don’t want to be Trump’s VP

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Monday said he has no interest in becoming Donald Trump’s running mate.

“While Republican voters have chosen Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee, my previously stated reservations and concerns with many of his policies remain unchanged,” he said in a Facebook post.

{mosads}“He will be best served by a running mate and by surrogates who fully embrace his campaign,” Rubio added. “As such, I have never sought, will not seek and do not want to be considered for vice president.

“Instead, I will focus my attention on representing the people of Florida, retaining a conservative majority in the Senate and electing principled conservatives across the country.”

Trump suggested last week he could ask Rubio to join his ticket despite their bitter rivalry during the race their party’s presidential nomination.

“Marco’s a good guy, a really nice guy, and I like him,” Trump said last Thursday. “But not necessarily with respect to any position, but it could happen.”

Rubio implied late last month he was warming to Trump despite his previous criticism of the billionaire.

“[Trump’s] performance has improved significantly,” said Rubio, who suspended his own campaign in March.

Trump said last week he is likely to announce his vice presidential pick at the Republican National Convention in July. Reports emerged last week that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson would serve on the selection committee finding Trump’s running mate.

Carson, another former Republican White House hopeful, said last Thursday he would not seek the role himself.

“I don’t want to be a distraction,” he said. “I’m sure you remember how crazy the media was about me. It’s too important a time in our life.”

Trump has since floated other vanquished GOP presidential primary foes — including Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Gov. John Kasich (Ohio) — as possibilities. 

Updated at 5:10 p.m.