by Sharon Rondeau
(Jul. 17, 2024) — On the third night of the Republican National Convention (RNC) Wednesday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum addressed the convention almost exclusively on the goal of making the United States “energy-dominant” in a second Trump administration as it was during the first.
A former 2024 Republican presidential contender, after Burgum left the race in early December, he became a strong surrogate for Trump and was reportedly among Trump’s top three choices for vice president.
As anticipation for the release of Trump’s selection of a running-mate built on Monday, much speculation abounded as to whether it would be Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Burgum, former HUD Secretary Dr. Benjamin Carson, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, or someone else.
At approximately 2:37 p.m. EDT, an announcer revealed that Vance was the nominee, which was suggested by former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer slightly earlier that day stemming from a report Fleischer said he received that a “government vehicle” had arrived to transport Vance to the convention.
In a morning interview with Burgum on Tuesday from the convention, “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Burgum about the “phone call” he received informing him he was not Trump’s VP choice, a question to which Burgum responded by revealing that while Trump gave him the news, he also addressed him as “Mr. Secretary.”
According to his Wikipedia biography, Burgum has been an adviser to the campaign on energy.
North Dakota’s official website states:
North Dakota produces vast amounts of energy from the many abundant sources available. From coal and oil to wind and solar, energy sources complement each other providing reliable, redundant availability to power the surrounding states with reliable deliveries to fuel and electricity.
The state provides many incentives to stimulate growth for existing infrastructure and new renewable energy projects. Along with reliable sources, North Dakota is paving the way for reduced carbon through capture and sequestration projects. Carbon sequestration within North Dakota borders will not only limit future emissions of carbon dioxide, but also enhance oil recovery to further optimize production of energy exports.
A “Fact Sheet” further reports:
North Dakota is the second-largest energy-producing state in the nation offering opportunities in oil and gas, coal and alternative energy production. North Dakota is a proactive producer and serves as a model in fostering innovative, long-term strategies to meet our nation’s growing energy demand. The state strives with an “all of the above” approach in the development of its wide-ranging energy sector while meeting the need for
energy security in an environmentally responsible manner. North Dakota offers a comprehensive package of incentives to stimulate growth in all energy sectors and creates a broad-based energy strategy that maximizes the state’s resources.
Burgum’s background includes launching several businesses, including Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired in 2001 for a reported $1.1 billion. As a result of the acquisition, Burgum became chairman of Microsoft Business Solutions, a position he left in 2007.
On March 17, 2024, KFYR reported North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer as having said in regard to Burgum, “I would say he is clearly a frontrunner for a cabinet position, whether it’s energy or something else. Doug could fit into a lot of areas in an administration. Treasury, commerce, agriculture, energy, and even EPA.”
In his speech during the 8:00 a.m. EDT hour Wednesday, Burgum enumerated steps he believed should be taken in a Trump administration to return to energy independence, primarily among them to lift the restrictions the Biden regime placed on domestic energy production in its earliest days.
Burgum said Biden’s decisions raised the cost of food, gasoline, clothing and rent.
He pledged that Trump would not ban or restrict gas-powered vehicles as the Biden regime has been attempting to do.
“Energy dominance will be the big stick that President Trump will carry,” Burgum told the audience, adapting the motto of President Theodore Roosevelt to the topic at hand.