As the first presidential debate nears, word on the street is that former President Donald Trump will announce his pick for the vice presidency, and several shortlister's names have cropped up in the headlines.

According to NBC News, at least three big names have landed at the top of the list of speculation as Trump prepares to make the announcement, which could come before the debate or during it, sources say.

The names being mentioned right now include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has also been noted as a third prospect.

What's going on?

Reportedly over a dozen sources with knowledge of the process within Trump's campaign said that the names have all been intensely debated and analyzed in recent weeks.

“As President Trump has said himself, the top criteria in selecting a vice president is a strong leader who will make a great president for eight years after his next four-year term concludes,” senior Trump campaign adviser Brian Hughes said in a statement.

“But anyone telling you they know who or when President Trump will choose his VP is lying unless that person is named Donald J. Trump.”

However, in a separate NBC News report, it was noted that Trump could pick his VP as soon as this week -- the week of the first debate with President Joe Biden.

The news outlet cited "four sources" familiar with the VP talk who said that Trump very well could make the announcement during or right before the first debate.

NBC News noted:

The sources also cautioned that the timing is not yet final and that the decision could still happen closer to the convention.

After this article was published, Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita tweeted, "yes ..it could come as soon as today …or …sometime in mid july !!"

He already knows

Another bombshell report over the weekend said that Trump already knows who he has selected to run with him and said that the person will, in fact, be at the debate.

Whether or not he reveals that person during the debate is still very much up in the air.

Many across social media have also speculated that the VP could be Vivek Ramaswamy.

It was reported on Tuesday that according to his schedule, Ramaswamy will be at Thursday's debate in Atlanta.