Donald Trump gave some of his most direct hints yet about who he might choose for a vice president during a Fox News interview. 

The presumptive Republican nominee for president named South Carolina senator Tim Scott (R) and South Dakota governor Kristi Noem (R) as potential candidates during a sit-down interview with Maria Bartiromo.

But as he likes to do, Trump left viewers in suspense - saying he won't make a final decision for a while.

"I mean, we have so many great people in the Republican Party, but not for a while," he said.

Trump drops names...

When asked about his criteria, Trump made clear that he is seriously thinking about an "emergency" that would require his VP to take over.

"It's got to be who would be a good president. I mean, you always have to think that because you know, in case of emergency … things happen right? No matter who you are, things happen. It's got to be number one," he said.

Trump said he talks "to everybody" but he mentioned Scott and Noem by name.

Scott ran a short-lived campaign for president before dropping out and endorsing Trump - who said the "low-key" Scott is more successful as a Trump defender than a presidential candidate.

"I called Tim Scott this week — because a lot of people like Tim Scott — I called him, and I said: 'You are a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself," Trump said.

VP speculation swirls

Noem is also known for having forged close political ties to Trump, who famously held a campaign rally in her state at Mt. Rushmore in 2020.

Trump said Noem "has been incredible fighting for me."

"She said 'I'd never run against him because I can't beat him.' That was a very nice thing to say," he said.

Trump's last remaining primary challenger, Nikki Haley, is facing a make-or-break moment in South Carolina on February 24 after Trump soared to victory in Iowa and New Hampshire last month.

With Trump's victory in the primary seen as all but certain, interest has turned to who Trump will choose for VP.

Other names to be floated include Senator J.D. Vance and Rep. Elise Stefanik, both notable pro-Trump firebrands who have faced backlash from the left for doubling down on Trump's 2020 election fraud claims.