"I think he is a remarkable figure," Gingrich said of Donald Trump Thursday night. | Getty Gingrich: 'I'm being vetted' to be Trump's VP

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich confirmed Thursday night that he is being vetted to serve as Donald Trump's running mate in the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, Gingrich said that if asked to serve as Trump's vice president that he would, adding that currently "five or six people" including himself are being vetted for the slot.


"If Trump offers the position and is serious about it, which I think he would be after our conversations, Callista and I would feel compelled to serve the country," the former congressman said, mentioning his wife.

Gingrich also speculated on a potential timeline for Trump's decision, saying it may come as early as Wednesday or Thursday next week, just days prior to the Republican National Convention "so they dominate the weekend news" going into it.

Trump has seen a number of potential vice presidential picks bow out of the veepstakes in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst all but dropped out of contention, saying she was instead focus on her reelection bid, just as Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker also claimed to be taking his name out of the running for the post.

Gingrich, a politician with a national profile and legislative presence who ran for the Republican nomination in 2012, could ease the concerns of some GOP senators who have become increasingly distressed by Trump's lack of options for a running mate. Despite others' trepidation, the former Georgia representative lauded his potential ticket partner Thursday night, saying they've "always had a good friendship."

"I think he is a remarkable figure. He has great strengths, he has weaknesses but on balance he is historic," Gingrich said. "He beat out all those other guys to be the nominee and I think that we are at a crossroads in American history, frankly, captured in part by what happened over the last few days. We are either going to clean up Washington or Washington is going to corrupt the whole country."