Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) dug in his heels as he repeated claims that Americans are living under a “dictatorship” with President Joe Biden.
During an appearance on “State of the Union” Sunday, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins pressed the governor to explain why he thinks his political differences with Biden make the Democratic president a despot.
“I understand that you don’t like President Biden’s policies on immigration and student loans,” Collins told Burgum, a candidate for Donald Trump’s vice presidential spot in 2024. “But you respectfully call the Democratic president a dictator.”
Citing Biden’s use of executive orders, Burgum said, “I just think there’s a double standard here again. He bypasses the other two branches of government to advance an ideological position – whether it’s on the economy or on climate extremism – he does so without using the other branches.”
Collins pushed back, telling the governor, “I don’t think anyone expects the Republican governor to agree with President Biden on that. But it is not a dictatorship.”
“Well, again, I think part of the origin of this word has been a non-stop media attack on President Trump saying he might use executive orders if he takes office,” Burgum responded.
Somehow, Burgum managed to muddle his message and went on to say that Biden should use executive powers to strengthen security at the southern U.S. border.
In response, Collins reminded the governor that Trump has signed 220 executive orders during his term, far more than the 139 Biden issued “in the same time frame.”
During his “State of the Union” appearance, Burgum also conveniently ignored Trump’s own comments about flirting with a dictatorship for re-election.
Last December, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee pledged that he would not abuse his presidential powers if confirmed, “except on day one.”
Watch Burgum and Collins’ exchange here:
