North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024. Burgum had been in the running for former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)
BY: MICHAEL ACHTERLING
MILWAUKEE (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum evoked former President Teddy Roosevelt while emphasizing energy dominance during his speech Wednesday night to the Republican National Convention.
“Teddy Roosevelt encouraged America to speak softly and carry a big stick,” Burgum told convention delegates in Milwaukee. “Energy dominance will be the big stick that President Trump will carry.”
Two days after being passed over by former President Donald Trump to be his pick for vice president, Burgum focused his remarks on America’s energy policies. He said Trump would advocate for selling energy to our allies while President Joe Biden’s policies are making Russia and Iran “filthy rich.”
“They are using that money to fund wars and terrorism against our allies,” he said.
Domestically, Burgum said, Biden’s policies are like facing a headwind of regulation and that he was “acting like a dictator” by using mandates to shut down baseload electricity facilities.
“That’s why your electric bills have soared upwards as our nation’s electric grid reliability spirals downward,” Burgum said. “Four more years of Joe will usher in an era of Biden brownouts and blackouts.”
He assured delegates that Trump will ensure America has the energy it needs to defeat China in an artificial intelligence arms race in coming years.
Burgum also touted the greatness of rural America that feeds, fuels and defends the country.
“Rural America is Trump country,” he exclaimed. “We know that he’ll fight for us. He’ll fight for our families and we know one more thing, he’ll let all of you keep driving your gas-powered cars.”
Day three of the RNC also featured a primetime speech by Trump’s vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio.
Burgum, who sat next to Trump during Vance’s speech, was a final contender to become Trump’s running mate before the former president announced Vance as his pick in a social media post on Monday.
Trump has hinted that Burgum could be appointed to his Cabinet, with some speculating Burgum could potentially serve as interior, energy or agriculture secretary.
During his remarks in a CNN interview on Monday night, Burgum declined to comment on whether he would accept a Cabinet post in a second Trump administration. He has also indicated he intends to help Trump get elected this November during the remainder of the campaign.
In a post-speech statement, Adam Goldwyn, chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL party, blasted Burgum, citing his support of a strict abortion ban and anti-LGBTQ legislation.
“Judging by his speech tonight, it isn’t surprising that Donald Trump snubbed Doug Burgum as his Vice Presidential pick,” Goldwyn said. “Perhaps some Republican convention attendees may be fooled by Burgum, but North Dakotans know exactly who he is – a billionaire cosplaying as a cowboy with an un-dirtied Carhartt who sold out women and the LGBTQ community to bend the knee to the far right.”
Comments