The point is if they do not care, they wouldn't even bother to pretend. He'd just stay in office or run again.
The dance of running as VP doesn't make any sense as either they don't care and it's not necessary, or they do care and that's not a loophole that exists.
Besides, IIRC Kanye and Trump had a falling out over a suggestion that Trump would take a backseat to Kanye in a campaign. Trump won't settle for even the appearance of 'second place'.