Speculation continues to swirl over who former President Donald Trump will pick as his vice presidential candidate.

One observer suggested that a recent Capitol Hill appearance may have answered the question. 

Noem refused to criticize Trump's tariff plan

Washington Examiner contributor Brady Knox noted that South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem testified before the House Agriculture Committee  on Wednesday.

We do not want our enemies to be our neighbors.

Tomorrow, I’ll be testifying before the House Committee on Ag to discuss the action we’ve taken in South Dakota to prohibit China from buying our ag land. https://t.co/j6pmxMrNK4

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) March 19, 2024

Knox pointed to how Noem addressed Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on imported foreign goods, an idea that the governor had previously criticized when the former president was still in office.

"I think that that is a proposal that people are still looking at and having conversations about," Noem said when asked about the danger that retaliatory measures could have on American agriculture.

Knox says Noem's answer "reflects her standing"

"And that is a great conversation for you to continue to have as well with the Republican members here as well to weigh in, to make sure we get the best policy in place," Noem told Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott.

"Because policy is what matters and the debate and the discussion is incredibly important," the South Dakota governor went on to add.

In his article, Knox maintained that "Noem's evasive answer reflects her standing in the vice presidential sweepstakes."

"Her silence on the issue now hints at her caution to not offend the former president and risk her spot as potential running mate," he added.

Vivek Ramaswamy and Elise Stefanik also mentioned as contenders

Newsweek reported last month that Noem did well in a vice presidential poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates from among 1,478 attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

The governor managed to tie for first place with businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Next came former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard at 9% while New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott each received support from 8% of respondents.

Christopher Devine is an author and associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton, and he told Newsweek, "It is early in that process and I do not expect that Donald Trump will make his decision until the summer."