Staff Reports
In another predictable twist of the political maze, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is no longer in the running to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick for the 2024 race. But leave it to Trump to keep everyone guessing by hinting at a Cabinet position instead. Trump, ever the showman, had his fun teasing Burgum with a little “Mr. Secretary” title drop during a recent chat.
Burgum sat down with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins during the Republican National Convention. The governor, always one for polite conversation, talked about his call with the former president, where Trump benevolently informed him he was out of the VP consideration. Before Senator J.D. Vance snagged the VP spot, names like Burgum and Senator Marco Rubio were floating around as potential running mates.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was on the shortlist to be Trump’s running mate, tells @kaitlancollins that he received a call from former President Trump where he was addressed as “Mr. Secretary."
Watch: pic.twitter.com/Z7tCjaziRd
— TheSourceCNN (@TheSourceCNN) July 16, 2024
Of course, Burgum played the cool card, telling Collins that he wasn’t angling for a Cabinet position or the VP job to begin with. No surprise there – he still has a few good months left governing North Dakota, which he modestly labeled the “greatest job in the nation.” Priorities, right? Meanwhile, Collins, ever the inquisitor, pounced on that “Mr. Secretary” nickname Trump used, suggesting it might be a hint about a future role in Trump’s Cabinet. Burgum diplomatically skirted around a direct answer, emphasizing that Trump needs to win first before any Cabinet dream can become a reality.
Trump’s “Mr. Secretary” jibe wasn’t without its admirers. Some Republicans, like Senator Steve Daines, have been openly supportive of the idea of Burgum overseeing energy policy in a Trump administration. Burgum, a stalwart ally of the fossil fuel industry, could shake things up by reversing “woke” energy policies and maybe even sparking life back into projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Imagine a nation where the energy policy isn’t held hostage by radical green agendas – that’s the vision some have for Burgum in a Trump Cabinet. The governor from North Dakota has made no secret of his fondness for oil and gas industries, has backed the Dakota Access Pipeline, and isn’t exactly thrilled with subsidies for electric vehicles. Plus, he’s got an ambitious plan to make North Dakota carbon-neutral by 2030. No wonder Trump noted Burgum’s expertise in energy, urging supporters to “get ready for something.”
So, while Burgum might not be standing next to Trump as VP, don’t count him out just yet. In Trump’s world, allies with a keen understanding of energy – and the willingness to challenge the current administration’s policies – are exactly the kind of team players he’s been known to value. Stay tuned because with Trump, there’s always another twist waiting around the corner.
