Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) contended that former President Donald Trump is “nothing” like the press portrays him, wishing that “every American” could see the authentic version of the 2024 presidential candidate.
Burgum, who is widely rumored to be a contender for Trump’s 2024 vice presidential candidate, was asked about a July 2023 interview in which he said he would not do any business with the former president. The governor explained that his views on the former president have evolved as he has spent personal time getting to know the candidate since endorsing him in January.
“And I wish every American could see him the way Kathryn and I have got to know him in the last six months because this guy is tireless, he’s committed, he’s smart, he’s funny, he’s nothing like he’s portrayed in the press,” Burgum said on Fox News Sunday. “And so if you asked me that same question today, I’d be like, ‘Absolutely, I would do business with him.’ Because think about how successful he’s been. Whatever it is, whether it’s in TV, real estate, politics, all the things he’s done, the guy knows how to get it done, and I think every American should be grateful that we got someone with that talent from the private sector that’s willing to put himself back into the presidential race again.”
Burgum added that Trump knows “how to use power” in a way that benefits the United States, citing how the former president was able to negotiate with other countries to create balanced trades across the globe. He stated that economic power can sometimes be more powerful than military power, and that Trump was effective in using this strategy.
Towards the end of the interview, Burgum was asked about the current state of the border, to which he argued that the Biden administration had abandoned the border patrol in the same manner that Democratic governors have abandoned the police. The North Dakota governor stated he has visited the border more times than President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, then argued that the chances of another Sept. 11 terrorist attack in the U.S. have gone up “dramatically” under the Biden administration’s watch.
Burgum and several other candidates reportedly received vetting materials from the Trump campaign on potentially serving as Trump’s vice presidential candidate. Other candidates to receive such consideration include Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), and Dr. Ben Carson.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The North Dakota governor initially ran for president in the 2024 presidential primary, but dropped out and endorsed Trump shortly after, making him the first 2024 presidential candidate to have done so. With Trump the presumptive Republican nominee and Biden seeking reelection, the 2024 election is likely to be a rematch between the two candidates.
Unlike the past presidential election, Trump is running after being found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records, with his verdict announced last month. Burgum and other Republican lawmakers have denounced this ruling, with the governor calling it “a travesty of justice.”