Trump’s new VP favorite? Republican governor now tops the list for oddsmakers after being trotted front and center at ex-president’s huge New Jersey rally
Former President Donald Trump continued to audition potential vice presidents at his massive rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on Saturday.
Trump trotted over to North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to deliver some opening remarks, with the ex-2024 rival revealing he was flying to the oceanside location with the ex-president aboard ‘Trump Force One’.
When it was Trump’s turn to speak, the presumptive Republican nominee hinted that Burgum could be the one.
“So get ready for something, okay, get ready,” Trump teased.
This reduced the chance that Burgum would become Trump’s running mate to the top betting site OddsChecker.com.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who previously ran against former President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, attended the massive rally in New Jersey on Saturday, increasing speculation that he was a front-runner for Trump’s VP pick.
Former President Donald Trump called Burgum “excellent” during his Saturday evening rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, which the campaign said drew about 80,000 Trump supporters. Burgum was one of Trump’s opening acts
As of Sunday morning, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was former President Donald Trump’s No. 1 choice for vice president, followed by ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and New York Representative Elise Stefanik
The governor of North Dakota now tops the list, followed by a Democrat turned Republican former representative. Tulsi Gabbard, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and New York Representative Elise Stefanik.
The site is missing from the list with another top candidate: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who seemingly ended her chance of becoming Trump’s pick when she admitted to shooting her dog, is also not on the list.
During the meeting, Trump praised Burgum, calling him “excellent.”
“And he was one of the candidates that ran and it was kind of a big group and sometimes you need controversy to make yourself known, and he’s a very – he’s not a controversial person, he’s a very smart person, “He is an excellent person, who made a lot of money, ran for office, became governor of North Dakota,” the ex-president said.
“And the numbers there, the numbers he’s done there, the work he’s done are unprecedented,” Trump continued. “And his wife is incredible. They’re a great couple.’
“You won’t find anyone better than this gentleman in terms of his knowledge. You know he made his money in technology, but he probably knows more about energy than anyone else,” the ex-president continued. “But Doug Burgum was incredible, the country is lucky to have him.”
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum waves to the crowd during Saturday’s huge Trump rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, which took place on the beach. Burgum said working with Trump as governor was like “having a wonderful breeze at your back.”
Thousands upon thousands of Trump supporters wait in line for the presumptive Republican nominee’s rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on Saturday. Trump had a number of opening acts, but had high praise for North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who flew his plane
During his remarks, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum revealed he got a ride to the rally on former President Donald Trump’s “Trump Force One” plane. The plane made a flyover over the rally site about two hours before Trump appeared on stage
Burgum launched his longshot presidential bid in June 2023.
The little-known politician only qualified for two of the GOP debates — which Trump declined to participate in — and showed up to the first on crutches right after injuring his Achilles heel.
In early December – about six weeks before the first votes were cast in Iowa – Burgum pulled the plug on his campaign and endorsed Trump on the eve of the Iowa caucuses.
Since then, he has appeared alongside Trump at a handful of campaign events, including when Trump easily won the Nevada caucuses, where chief rival Nikki Haley was not on the ballot.
During Saturday’s meeting, Burgum noted how he had served as governor under both Presidents Trump and Joe Biden.
“Working with President Trump as governor was like having a wonderful breeze at your back. President Trump respects states’ rights, he has rolled back regulations and cut taxes,” Burgum said. “Working under Biden’s regulatory regime is like having a gale force wind in your face.”
“Because the Biden bureaucrats are treating our constitutional republic like a dictatorship,” Burgum said.