Trump zeroes in on 'unxpected' pick of Afghanistan veteran as 2024 running mate

Yet another Republican U.S. senator has caught former President Donald Trump's eye as he searches for a ticketmate to replace former Vice President Mike Pence. 

The New York Times reported Friday that Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has jumped to the top of Trump's list. 

The 47-year-old Arkansas Republican was elected to the Senate in 2014 after serving tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army. 

The pick of Cotton would be unexpected because it would be bland. 

Cotton joins other veepstakes contenders from the upper chamber including Sens. Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and J.D. Vance. 

Former President Donald Trump (right) is considering picking Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (left) to be his running mate - a choice that would be safe and not rock the boat. Cotton is a 47-year-old Army veteran. The two were pictured together at the White House in August 2017 

Former President Donald Trump throws a pen during his Thursday night rally in the Bronx. During an interview after the rally he refused to name his top three VP picks - which reportedly now includes Cotton 

The presumptive Republican nominee is also considering North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who he brought to his recent mega-rally in Wildwood, New Jersey. 

Trump also discussed the five Republican men for Cabinet positions should he win a second term in November, The Times report said. 

During an interview Thursday with News 12 Trump declined to name his top three VP picks.

'Well, we have so many, I don't want to do that,' the ex-president said after his rally in the Bronx. 

Trump then commended Dr. Ben Carson, his former HUD secretary, Rubio, Vance and Rep. Elise Stefanik. 

The ex-president said he would announce his choice 'sometime during the convention.' 

The Republican National Convention is scheduled for mid-July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton would represent a safe pick for former President Donald Trump, as he's long been considered a GOP up-and-comer. He's a veteran who's served in the U.S. Senate for nearly 10 years 

Trump also has a number of former 2024 rivals at his disposal. 

His chief rival, former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley, finally said this week that she would vote for Trump in the November election. 

Trump supporters interviewed by DailyMail.com in New Jersey liked the idea of the ex-president picking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another chief challenger. 

DeSantis said months ago he wouldn't take the promotion - though more recently has started fundraising for Trump. 

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is also a favorite with the MAGA crowd - and at 38-years-old would bring youth to the ticket. 

And if Trump wanted a wildcard pick he could choose the Democrat-turned-independent former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who sides with Trump on a number of issues in her new book. 

Trump even left the door open to pick South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem - after she wrote in her memoir that she shot her dog and included a meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that didn't happen.