Burgum says he wouldn’t serve as Trump running mate

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) said Monday he would not serve as former President Trump’s running mate if Trump were to win the party’s nomination in 2024.

“No, I would not,” Burgum, who is also running for president, said in an interview on “CNN This Morning,” when asked whether he would serve as Trump’s vice president. 

“Happy to do lots of other things. I [had a] fabulous 30 years in the private sector, a lot of opportunities there,” the North Dakota governor continued. 

Burgum also shot down the suggestion of accepting a Cabinet post. 

“I’m not running for a Cabinet position. I mean, I’m not selling a book, I’m not running [for] Cabinet. All I’ve ever done: CEO, entrepreneur, build businesses, attract talent, be successful, understand how the globe works, and lead stuff, like the miracle story, the success story of North Dakota,” he said, touting his state’s economy and innovative spirit. 

It’s common for people running for president to reject any suggestion they would consider a vice presidential nomination or a Cabinet position.

But that doesn’t mean such calculations can’t change. Vice President Harris was once a rival to Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Burgum managed to catch Trump’s attention during the Republican presidential primary debate last Wednesday.

In an interview on Newsmax following the GOP debate, Trump, who skipped the contest, invoked Burgum’s name when asked whether he saw any potential vice-presidential contenders on the debate stage.

Burgum has avoided criticizing Trump directly and has tried to focus on his message touting his economic experience and his state’s energy independence. 

“I actually like the governor. I respect him a lot. He was great,” Trump reportedly said when asked about a potential running mate. “He endorsed me twice, the governor of North Dakota. I think he’s got something very good about him. He’s a high-quality person.”