Governor Doug Burgum (RN.D.) insisted while repeating claims that Americans are living under a “dictatorship” with President Joe Biden.
During an appearance on Sunday “State of the Union”CNN Kaitlan Collins pressed the governor to explain why he thinks his policy differences with Biden make the Democratic president a despot.
“I understand you don’t like President Biden’s policies on immigration or student loans,” Collins told Burgum, a candidate for donald trumpvice president position in 2024. “But respectfully, you are calling the democratically elected president a dictator.”
Citing Biden’s use of executive orders, Burgum said, “I just think there’s again a double standard here. He is ignoring the other two branches of government to promote an ideological vision – whether on the economy or climate extremism – he is doing so without recourse to the other branches.”
Collins pushed back, telling the governor, “I don’t think anyone expects the Republican governor to agree with President Biden on this. But it is not a dictatorship.”
“Well, I think again, part of the origin of this word was a non-stop media attack on President Trump, saying he could use executive orders when he takes office,” Burgum responded.
Somehow managing to confuse his message, Burgum went on to say that Biden should use executive powers to strengthen security on the US southern border.
In response, Collins reminded the governor that Trump signed 220 executive orders during his term, far more than the 139 that Biden enacted “in the same period.”
During his “State of the Union” appearance, Burgum also conveniently ignored Trump’s own remarks about flirting with a dictatorship if he were re-elected.
Last December, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for 2024 promised not to abuse his presidential powers if he were nominated, “Except for the first day.”
Watch Burgum and Collins’ exchange here:
