NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — Dr. Ben Carson said Thursday he believes Donald Trump to be the most persecuted political figure while refusing to rule out his potential status as the former president’s 2024 running mate.

Asked whether comparisons of Trump to recently deceased top Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny or former South African President Nelson Mandela were accurate, Carson said, “I think he’s been persecuted more than any political figure I remember in my lifetime, and probably before that.”