North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum spoke before a large crowd of Donald Trump supporters Saturday in the latest sign that competition to be the former president’s running mate is heating up among vice presidential candidates.
Burgum, who was among Trump’s opponents in the Republican primary before dropping out, praised the presumptive nominee and criticized President Joe Biden in brief remarks at the rally in New Jersey.
“Working with President Trump as governor has been like having a nice breeze at your back,” Burgum said, adding that working under Biden’s “regulatory regime is like having a windstorm in your face because Biden’s bureaucrats are treating our constitutional republic like a dictatorship.”
Trump, in turn, praised Burgum, calling the governor “amazing” and telling people to “get ready for something.”
“He made his money in technology, but he probably knows more about energy than anyone I know,” Trump said. “Then get ready for something. OK, just prepare yourself.
Trump has indicated he is unlikely to announce his vice presidential pick before the Republican National Convention in July.
Earlier 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, “is not being considered for the position of Vice President, but I wish you good luck!”
Several other vice presidential candidates have spoken or attended Trump rallies during the 2024 campaign, including Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Rep. Elise Stefanik, R.N.Y.; and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Burgum’s comments came as other candidates promoted Trump in interviews and speeches, with some doubting whether they would accept the results of the 2024 election.
In a May 5 interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Scott sidestepped several questions about whether he would accept the November result. In January, Stefanik was noncommittal, saying 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 avoided questions about whether Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election.
During a fundraiser in Washington state on Saturday, Biden said politicians who “audition” to be Trump’s running mate will have to pass the litmus test that they will not accept the results of the 2020 and 2024 elections.
“This is not a dictator state,” Biden said, according to a report from the group. “What is happening?”
Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said in a statement Saturday that Republicans “competing to be Donald Trump’s MAGA running mate must pledge allegiance to his election lies, extreme agenda, and put their revenge and retribution above the best interests of the American people.”
Trump’s rally was held in Wildwood, New Jersey, although there is no indication that the state is in play. In 2020, Biden obtained 57.1% of the vote against Trump’s 41.3%. Trump, who grew up in New York, lost the neighboring state by a similar margin in 2016 to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
During remarks that lasted nearly 90 minutes, Trump said his campaign “will officially play in the state of New Jersey.”
His most recent big campaign events were held in Michigan and Wisconsin, both swing states that Trump won in 2016 before Biden flipped them four years later.
The New Jersey rally comes between two crucial weeks of witness testimony in Trump’s secret trial in Manhattan, where he faces charges related to falsifying business records that prosecutors say were used to try to cover up payments to the movie star. adult Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty.
Daniels testified this week, and former Trump lawyer turned critic Michael Cohen is expected to testify on Monday as the prosecution’s star witness. It is unclear whether Trump will take a stand in his own defense.
Jake Traylor It is Isabelle Schmeler contributed.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
