Is Doug Burgum the dark horse in the Trump VP race? trends now
When former President Donald Trump welcomes potential running mates to Mar-a-Lago this weekend a dark horse could emerge as a favorite.
One-time frontrunner, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, is all but out of contention following revelations she shot dead her 14-month-old dog Cricket.
Other candidates - including U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and J.D. Vance; and congresswoman Elise Stefanik - are also set to attend.
But whispers are circulating about a lesser-known Republican who 18 months ago was little heard of outside his remote home state.
He is a billionaire businessman surrounded by a loving family and has the support of a wife who has her own inspirational back story overcoming drug and alcohol addiction.
Republican presidential candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and wife Kathryn
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
Enter Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota.
One reason for the so-called 'Burgum buzz' among Republicans is his uptick of Fox News appearances.
Burgum is now a frequent guest on the network as he navigates the delicate cable news dance to attract Trump's favor.
The governor from the rural state was brought on the network on Monday to discuss the pressing issue of pro-Palestine protests that continued raging at some of America's most elite colleges.
As an undergraduate of North Dakota State University, Burgum is not an expert on Ivy League schools or a policy guru on the political sensitivities of Israel and Palestine.
But he does have some thoughts to share about former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden.
'If President Trump was in office right now and we were leading through strength abroad, we would not be seeing this on our campuses today,' he said, laying blame for the college protests 'all at the feet of Joe Biden.'
Under Biden, Burgum asserted, Jewish students were afraid to go to class, because the president had not stepped up to help shut down the volatile protests that were preventing students from attending their university.
Burgum speaks in a steady fashion with traces of his North Dakota accent that evoke a calm midwestern approach, and the message is clear: Biden is weak and Trump is strong.
The governor's performance on Fox News does not strike the viewer as 'star casting,' the quality that Trump respects the most.
But it was sufficient to get an endorsement from the former president's social media account, a video of Burgum's appearance being shared on Trump's Truth Social account.
Last week, Burgum appeared again on Fox News to condemn the 'sham trial' in New York City, describing it as 'election interference' that was keeping Trump off the campaign trail.
'It is absolutely election interference and it is so unfair to the public and to our country,' he said in another video that was appreciated and shared by Trump.
Kathryn Burgum's struggle with alcohol addiction and her treatment platform
Burgum's wife Kathryn has struggled with alcohol addiction, but after she became the First Lady of North Dakota, she used her story to raise awareness of addiction and promote treatment options.
For six years, Burgum has shared details of her story of how she was a 'black out drinker' in high school which continued into college.
'My introduction to alcohol was, you know, full on right in the minute I took my first drink really, and then from there, as someone who has an addiction, has full on control of my life,' she said.
Burgum's wife talks frankly about her addiction struggle in order to give people hope and encouragement to seek treatment.
Burgum's wife Kathryn has struggled with alcohol addiction, but after she became the First Lady of North Dakota, she used her story to raise awareness of addiction and promote treatment options
For six years, Kathryn Bugurm has shared details of her story of how she was a 'black out drinker' in high school which continued into college
The Burgum family's 2022 Christmas card
She frequently talks about an eight-year struggle with multiple sobriety attempts and relapses, before finally succeeding.
Her success relied on support and treatment assistance from her employer and her relationship with a supportive community that helped her get off alcohol for good.
She also turned to her faith.
'I was raised Catholic. I didn’t have a lot of faith, but I sort of knew there was something out there. So, I said, "Hey, if there’s anyone out there. I need help," she explained during a luncheon this week. 'And I’ve been sober since I uttered those words. For me, that was like the miracle that happened.'
Since then, Burgum has urged the country to reduce the shame and stigma around addictions in order to encourage people struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment.
'Our nation is at a place where it’s hard for us to listen to each other without judgment,' she said. 'There’s way too much judgment. We need to be patient and kind. We need to be tolerant.
Burgum made the conversation about addiction a part of her husband's presidential campaign, and continues talking about it as she and her husband has grown closer to the Trump family.
Burgum made the conversation about addiction a part of her husband's presidential campaign
The conversation fits within Trump's own efforts on combatting addiction during his first term as president.
Trump does not drink, citing his brother Fred's struggle with alcohol addiction as an influence. His brother struggled with addiction his entire life before dying from a heart attack at the age of 42.
The president revealed details about his brother's struggle as he promoted addiction treatment during his first term as president.
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