Donald Trump may have 50 candidates on his running mate list, but there was room for only one of them on Saturday’s campaign plane.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum joined potential Republican candidates on the short flight from LaGuardia Airport to Atlantic City, New Jersey, making a surprise addition to President Trump’s manifesto.
Mr. Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, remained on the plane to speak privately with the former president before he disembarked on the tarmac, and then they all drove to a large waterfront gathering in nearby Wildwood.
The newspaper interviewed Mr. Burgum after his speech at the New Jersey rally, with his wife watching, and asked him why he thought he had been chosen to be the first speaker of the night.
“First of all, it is extremely important for the country that President Trump be re-elected. Having had the opportunity to serve as governor under President Trump and President Biden, I had a front row seat to see the difference in the meaning of leadership. So when the Trump team said, “Can you come and help us?” we said, “Yes.” ”
The newspaper asked Burgum if he would have a chance to speak with President Trump on the plane.
“I did. And of course, President Trump, one of the great things about him is how hard he works. And when he’s on that plane, he’s on that plane. He and everyone on his team are working every minute of his day,” the governor said.
“This time, instead of McDonald’s, we had Wendy’s. You know, you were all there, and everyone’s working. It was great. Everyone on that team cares so much about the country. ”
Burgum deflected reports that he was being considered for a Cabinet or vice presidential nomination, saying Trump had said he still had dozens of people in mind.
“I dismiss all that, because just a week ago at Mar-a-Lago, when someone asked him a question, during his remarks he said there were more than 50 people on the shortlist. Therefore, the shortlist could be very long.”
“And I think everyone who cares about this country should help President Trump with his campaign. That’s what the first lady and I are doing,” Burgum concluded.
President Trump addressed Burgum on stage after the governor spoke in Wildwood, telling him to “be ready” for “something.”
“Another day at the beach,” Burgum said to a raucous crowd at the beach that Wildwood officials estimate ranged from 80,000 to 100,000 people, a record for a political rally in the Garden State. After giving a short but enthusiastic speech, he told the Post with a smile on his face.
“Donald Trump means strength and Joe Biden means weakness,” Burgum said. “If you want to make America strong again, you know what to do.”
Burgum, 67, unsuccessfully ran for the 2024 Republican nomination and withdrew at the end of last year, but unlike fellow presidential candidate Nikki Haley, she quickly replaced Trump after withdrawing from the race. I supported it.
President Trump on Saturday denied reports that Haley had emerged as the frontrunner for the role.
“Nikki Haley is not being considered for VP, but I wish her the best of luck!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
