Ben Carson, the former rival now helping presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump choose a running mate, said Thursday he doesn’t want the position and that Democrats may be among those considered.

“I’m not interested in doing that for a number of reasons,” Mr. Carson said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “I don’t want to be a distraction. I’m sure you remember how crazy the media was about me, I don’t want to be a distraction, it’s too important a time in our life.”

As for the wide net being cast for candidates, he added: “We would consider people who are Americans and who put America first.”