Vice presidential candidate and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum suggested that asking tough questions in the debates could help CNN live up to its slogan “The Most Trusted Name in News.”
Burgum appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash” on Sunday morning to talk about CNN’s hosting of the upcoming presidential debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump.
“I think this is a real opportunity for CNN, the ‘Most Trusted Name in News,’ to ask the tough questions because this is a rematch. Four years ago, we had this debate right before the election, and Joe Biden went on camera and said the Hunter Biden laptop was a smear campaign, it was Russian disinformation, it was garbage. And now we know none of that is true,” Burgum said.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum speaks during the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
He added, “I think America is waiting for an opportunity, and that means CNN has an opportunity to ask both candidates some tough questions.”
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“The Biden team is making a real effort to lower expectations” ahead of the debate, Burgum argued. In contrast, he suggested, Trump should try hard not to underestimate the president.
“He’s run for office over 10 times, he’s run for president four times, he’s been campaigning since Nixon was president,” Burgum said. “This guy’s got the chops. We saw it. We saw it in the debates four years ago. We saw it in the State of the Union this year. He can step up when it’s needed.”
President Biden and former President Trump are scheduled to hold their first presidential debate on CNN on Thursday. (AP Photo/Julia Nickinson and Evan Vucci)
Burgum has been rumored in recent months to be a front-runner to be Trump’s running mate, and while he said he’s had “numerous conversations” with the former president, he has not provided any updates or comment on the vetting process.
He also avoided directly answering CNN’s question about his chances of winning.
“I think we have to look at the fact that President Trump can win this election no matter who the vice president is. He has the luxury of not having to pick somebody,” Burgum responded.
North Dakota Governor and former presidential candidate Doug Burgum stands front row at Trump’s New Jersey rally
Doug Burgum avoided answering a question about potentially being President Trump’s running mate. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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She added, “I think it’s up to President Trump. President Trump knows the standard that he wants. He’ll make that choice when he has it. He has a lot of great options and I think my background of success in business and success in the executive branch as governor is probably known by everyone, everything, everything across the country. But the standard that he wants is his choice.”
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