• Donald Trump is skeptical of Rep. Elise Stefanik, The New York Times reported in a new profile.
  • Stefanik transformed from a centrist into a diehard MAGA supporter in recent years.
  • But Trump has mocked what he sees as efforts by Stefanik at self-promotion, The Times reported.

Former President Donald Trump doesn't trust the rising Republican star Rep. Elise Stefanik, despite her overt displays of loyalty to him, a report said.

The New York Times cited two sources close to Trump for his apparent mistrust of her. It did not give their identities.

In a profile of Stefanik, The Times charted her transformation from a moderate Republican skeptical of Trump into one of his most vocal supporters.

At a press conference in May, The Times noted, Stefanik declared herself to be "ultra-MAGA", adopting a label from President Joe Biden initially intended as an insult.

She has often lived up to the label, including by backing up Trump's debunked claims that the 2020 election was rigged. As NPR reported, that effort came despite Stefanik's work to promote democracy in other countries.

Later, she angrily defended Trump when the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago, calling the move part of a "Russia hoax 2.0."

Her jibe was a reference to the Mueller investigation into Trump's presidential campaign which his allies say was politically motivated.

Citing the two sources close to him, The Times said that Trump was entertained by the spectacle of Stefanik defending him in public, but detected an ulterior motive.

It highlighted stories in the media floating Stefanik as a potential running mate for Trump as a source of derision.

Though The Times did not identify specific stories, CNN reported in May that Stefanik was being discussed as a potential running-mate, leading to a series of other articles discussing the possibility.

Forbes and The Atlantic have also mentioned her as a potential pick, though without attributing that information to Trump or his allies.

This, per The Times, was met with "bemusement and mockery" by Trump and his allies, who believe that Stefanik's own team placed the stories.

Trump and Stefanik didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider, made outside normal working hours.