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Did Doug Burgum Boost His Chances As VP With This Sunday Show Appearance?

Rebecca Downs
Rebecca Downs  |  June 04, 2024 4:00 PM

On the list of running mate considerations for former and potentially future President Donald Trump looks to be Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND). Once a primary opponent of Trump, he surprisingly made it to the debate stage and upon dropping out last December, endorsed Trump not long after in January. Like Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), another primary opponent turned Trump supporter who is likely on the short list, Burgum has been a fitting surrogate for the presumptive Republican nominee on the campaign trail. This especially includes in light of Trump being found "guilty" last Thursday on 34 counts.

As Madeline covered at the time, not long after the verdict came down, Burgum reposted Mark Levin in a quoted repost that denounced the issues with the trial, but also, on a more hopeful note, pointed out that "The American people will have their say in November."

Burgum also appeared on CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, where he was asked by host Margaret Brennan about the trial. Right from the start, in addition to being referenced for being in contention, Burgum and Brennan discussed polling from CBS News/YouGov, which showed that views of respondents about the trial were "unchanged" after the verdict.

As Brennan reminded that a majority of respondents thought it was the "right verdict" and that Trump received a "fair trial," she also claimed that "a majority of Americans are unconvinced by this claim that it's all a sham," asking Burgum why he thought that was.

Burgum tellingly pointed out that "I think part of it, of course, polling is a point in time," while also reminding that more than a majority of respondents weren't paying close attention. Thirty-three percent said they were "somewhat closely" paying attention, while 23 percent were paying attention "not very closely."

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On that note, Burgum turned the question around. "And I understand that they're not paying close attention to the trial, because most Americans out there, you know, they've got--working Americans don't have time to watch, you know, TV all day, read every report, because they're facing all the things, you know, putting food on the table, gas in the car…all the challenges that they're facing. And I think that, as this moment in time passes, when we have the election coming this fall, people are going to make a decision about, were they better--are they better off today than they were four years ago?"

He also took the chance to remind about how, under Trump's record, Americans had the chance to "prosper" and experience no new wars. To that point, polling does also show, including from CBS News, that voters think more fondly of the Trump administration than the current Biden one when it comes to the economy, a top issue for voters in multiple polls. 

"I think, while this is--it's interesting, and it's captivating right now to a lot of people… the election is not going to turn on this trial," Burgum added to drive the point home. 

As they further discussed the hush money "trial" resulting in Trump being found "guilty," where Burgum did bring it back to the American people was by pointing out "I don't know if anybody American can explain how a--business transaction filing errors from seven years ago become federal election law, when federal election law is not a state."

With Burgum emphasizing "most Americans cannot explain it," he got Brennan to acknowledge that "it's complicated, sure." 

"Many of the legal experts that stood on the curb outside the courthouse for... six weeks can't explain it. So Americans are going to come back to the issues that affect them, because this trial outcome doesn't affect them," Burgum went on to say, emphasizing how "inflation affects them."

Polling also shows that inflation is a top issue, if not the top issue ahead of the election, and that it's one where Biden struggles mightily. Per RealClearPolling, just 34.5 percent approve of how the president is handling inflation, while 63.3 percent disapprove. 

A particular part of the discussion gaining attention came after the commercial break, when Brennan asked Burgum about coverage from The Washington Post about how Trump reportedly met with oil executives and offered to reduce regulations if they raised money to help get him elected. Burgum cut Brennan off to remind he was there for the meeting. 

"That did not happen. That is not what happened at that meeting. And that's been reported over and over and over again," he made clear. "He didn't ask for a billion dollars in donations, and there was no quid pro quo."

Burgum then expertly brought the conversation back to what Trump "did last time for energy," with cutting regulations and bringing down gas prices, which meanwhile reached historic highs under Biden, as he also flounders on the issue by still releasing oil from the emergency reserves. 

Then, as Brennan tried to steer the discussion away from Trump's accomplishments and back towards the reports, Burgum that "it drives me--when people went on--people went on hearsay that weren't at the meeting on hearsay report it like it's a fact, when it's not a fact." He continued to make clear that Trump is "not targeting anybody" as Brennan asked the question multiple times.

"He--he didn't make promises. He listened. He went around the room for two hours asking each of the people to tell me, what are your challenges, what are you facing, what are the--what are the things--he was there learning the whole night about the challenges that we're facing," Burgum offered. "I think anybody he's met with--he'll be meeting with people in Silicon Valley. He's meeting people in--across every industry. He's not targeting anybody, he's doing what candidates do, which is, you go and listen to an industry. And this industry in particular, which is the fundamental to the entire economy."

Again, Burgum is considered a top running mate contender, perhaps one of the final candidates in consideration. His January 14 endorsement of Trump is still his pinned post to his X account. 

Last month, Burgum was among those who appeared at the New York City courthouse in support of Trump during his sham trial, not long after Trump had the governor at his rally in bright blue New Jersey. 

It's not merely that Trump seems to like Burgum, but that the Democrats seem afraid of him. On May 25, when Burgum spoke at the NC GOP convention, the DNC War Room sent out a press release on "Trump's MAGA Veepstakes," warning "Doug Burgum Wants to Rip Away Freedoms and Rig the Economy for the Ultra-Wealthy with Trump."