A spokesman for Vice President Pence dismissed speculation on Saturday that the vice president was eyeing a White House run in 2020, calling such claims "wishful thinking."

"Claims @VP preparing for 2020 run are ridiculous # FakeNews and nothing more than wishful thinking by New York Times," Pence spokesman Marc Lotter tweeted.

Claims @VP preparing for 2020 run are ridiculous #FakeNews and nothing more than wishful thinking by New York Times — Marc Lotter (@VPPressSec) August 5, 2017

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The spokesman was pushing back on a New York Times report Saturday that discussed the possibility of some high-profile Republicans seeking the GOP presidential nomination in 2020 in place of President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE.

That report noted that while Pence has not given any public indication that he will run for president, some advisers have hinted to party donors that the vice president would seek the nomination if Trump chooses not to pursue a second term.

The White House responded to the Times' report on Saturday, suggesting that Trump's would-be Republican challengers take note of the president's popularity in Iowa, the first state to hold caucuses in presidential election years.

"The president is as strong as he’s ever been in Iowa, and every potentially ambitious Republican knows that,” spokeswoman Lindsay Walter told the newspaper.