Government of North Dakota Doug Burgum spoke before a large crowd Donald Trump supporters Saturday in the latest sign that competition to become the former president’s running mate is increasing among vice presidential hopefuls.
Burgum, who was among Trump’s opponents in the Republican primaries before dropping out, praised the presumptive nominee and slammed the president Joe Biden in brief remarks at the New Jersey meeting.
“Working with President Trump as governor was like having a wonderful breeze at your back,” Burgum said, adding that working under the “Biden regulatory regime is like having a gale force wind in your face because the Biden bureaucrats constitutional republic. like a dictatorship.”
Trump, in turn, praised Burgum, calling the governor “incredible” and telling people to “prepare for something.”
“He made his money in technology, but he probably knows more about energy than anyone,” Trump said. ‘So prepare yourself for something. Okay, get ready.”
Trump has indicated he is unlikely to announce his VP pick before the Republican National Convention in July.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who served in his administration before launching her own bid for the White House, “isn’t being considered for the VP slot, but I wish her best!”
Several other vice presidential candidates have spoken at Trump’s rallies during the 2024 campaign, including Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.; and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Burgum’s comments came as other contenders had promoted Trump in interviews and speeches, questioning whether they would accept the outcome of the 2024 election.
In a May 5 interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Scott dodged several questions about whether he would accept the November outcome. In January, Stefanik vowed not to say she would certify the 2024 results as a member of Congress. “We’ll see if this is a legal and valid election,” she said on “Meet the Press.”
Burgum has previously sidestepped questions about whether Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election.
At a fundraiser in Washington state on Saturday, Biden said politicians “auditioning” to become Trump’s running mate must pass a litmus test that they will not accept the results of the 2020 and 2024 elections.
“This is not some dictator state,” Biden said, according to a pool report. “What is happening?”
Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said in a statement Saturday that Republicans “vying to become Donald Trump’s MAGA running mate must pledge allegiance to his election lies and extreme agenda, and put his revenge and retaliation above the interests of the American people.” .”
Trump’s rally was held in Wildwood, New Jersey, although there is no indication the state is involved. In 2020, Biden won 57.1% of the vote, compared to Trump’s 41.3%. Trump, who grew up in New York, lost the neighboring state in 2016 by a similar margin to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
During remarks that lasted nearly 90 minutes, Trump said his campaign is “officially going to play in the state of New Jersey.”
His most recent major campaign events took place in Michigan and Wisconsin, both key swing states that Trump won in 2016 before Biden flipped them four years later.
The meeting in New Jersey comes between two crucial weeks of testimony in Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan, where he is charged in connection with falsifying company records that prosecutors say was used to cover up payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Daniels testified this week, and former Trump lawyer and critic Michael Cohen is expected to take the stand Monday as a key witness for the prosecution. It is unclear whether Trump will take the stand in defense of himself.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
