Trump says Texas Governor Greg Abbott is 'absolutely' on his VP shortlist after border trip: Ex-president adds another name to the shortlist and praises one of the favorites Tim Scott

Donald Trump has revealed Texas Governor Greg Abbott is 'absolutely' on his shortlist of potential running mates after their trip to the border on Thursday.

The Republican presidential frontrunner's list of possible vice president's is growing - with Senator Tim Scott, Ben Carson, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Rep. Elise Stefanik in the frame.

Others believed to be in the frame after Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Rep. Byron Donalds and Trump's former press secretary-turned Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

But the former president, 77, added another name to the list overnight as he heads full steam to a general election rematch with President Joe Biden in November.

'Absolutely, he is,' Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity of Abbott in an interview with him near Eagle Pass.

Trump then praised Scott, considered one of the favorites to be picked, and wouldn't reveal if there were any other candidates he was considered. 

Donald Trump has revealed Texas Governor Greg Abbott is 'absolutely' on his shortlist of potential running mates after their trip to the border on Thursday 

'Tim, for himself, he was fine. He did OK. I mean, he was OK as a candidate, but he didn’t want to talk about himself. He’s a very good man,” Trump said. “For me, he’s unbelievable. He’s a surrogate 

Earlier on Thursday, Abbott showed his VP credentials by blasting Joe Biden for 'endangering America by 'not doing his job' on the border.

Abbott guided Trump along the edge of the Rio Grande and showed him what Texas is doing to stop illegal immigrants crossing.

The Republican governor showed Trump how shipping containers topped with concertina wire are being used as barriers.

And he took him to a spot where the body of a drowned illegal migrant was brought ashore earlier this week.

Abbott also laid out plans to build an 80-acre base for the Texas National Guard.

He also vowed to continue his policy of sending illegal migrants to Democrat 'sanctuary' cities on buses.

It came as Biden visited the border city of Brownsville, Texas, about 324 miles from where Abbot appeared with Trump, but still in his state.

Abbott said: 'The United States of America is being invaded. Joe Biden is not doing his job.

'I don't think he (Biden) is on the border itself right now. He's in some sanitized location in the Brownsville area, not seeing the razor wire that Texas has put up around Brownsville.'

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump points to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as he speaks at Shelby Park during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas

A caravan wades past a string of buoys, being constructed to deter migrants crossings through the Rio Grande river, as they look for an opening in the concertina wire to enter into Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. July 27, 2023

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump talks with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at Shelby Park during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas

President Joe Biden delivers remarks about immigration and border security on February 29, 2024 in Brownsville, Texas. The President visited the border near Brownsville on the same day as a dueling trip made by former President Donald Trump to neighboring Eagle Pass, Texas

Members of U.S. National Guards stand guard on the shipping containers used as the border fence in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S., February 27, 202

The governor added: 'And he announced that he was going to Brownsville after it was already known that President Trump was coming to the state of Texas.

'It just goes to show that Biden does not care about either Texas or the border and what's going on. As a result you see a disaster.'

Abbott said America is dealing with 'more deadly consequences than we have in our entire lifetime because of Joe Biden's policies on the border' and 'it did not have to be this way.

'All Joe Biden had to do to secure the border was to keep in place what President Trump put in place in the first place,' he said.

Former US President Donald Trump's visit to Eagle Pass town near the Texas-Mexico border: his supporters gathered in the region on Thursday, Feb. 29

Local residents gather near the scene of Donald Trump's visit to the border with Greg Abbott in Eagle Pass, Texas

He said there were three laws already on the books that Biden should enforce.

The first requires the Biden administration to deny illegal entry into the United States 'like what Texas is doing right here.'

He added; 'President Biden is aiding and abetting illegal entry.'

The second law requires the administration to detain anybody who does get here illegally, he said.

'But it is not detaining them. He's releasing them across the entire country,' Abbott said.

Migrants wait to be processed by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol after they crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico, Oct. 19, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump visits the boat ramp at Shelby Park during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. At right is Texas Gov. Greg Abbot

S President Joe Biden (C) speaks as US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (C-L), Democratic Representative from Texas Vicente Gonzalez Jr (C-R) and others listen at the US Border Patrol Station in Brownsville, Texas

He said a third law requires the Biden administration to build border barriers.

But he said Biden is 'using every tool that he can to tear down the borders' Texas is putting up.

Abbott said: 'Not a week goes by without an American either losing their life, being raped or assaulted by somebody that Biden has allowed in our country illegally.'

Texas is 'ground zero' for illegal crossings and Biden had 'lied to America' about the border, he said.

Abbott and Trump spoke at Shelby Park, a 47-acre grassy area near the river.

There were thousands of daily illegal immigrant crossings there before Abbott had the military take it over in January.

Since then the number of migrants crossing has fallen to 'six or seven' a day, he said.