North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a Republican candidate seeking the presidential nomination in 2024, refrained from commenting on former President Donald Trump’s indictment pertaining to the events of January 6. During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Burgum did state that he believes Joe Biden won the election and emphasized the need to focus on the future.
When asked about Trump’s three felony indictments, which the former president denies, Burgum chose not to offer an opinion. He stated, Everybody’s innocent until proven guilty… We should be talking about the energy, economy, and national security. The governor further argued that voters are not preoccupied with the indictments, suggesting that if they are interested, they can watch cable news for coverage.
Burgum’s focus appears to be on positioning himself as a forward-thinking candidate, distancing himself from his previous association with Trump. Notably, he rarely mentions the former president’s name. Instead, Burgum aims to prioritize addressing policy issues such as inflation and the United States’ relationship with China, which he believes are the concerns of voters in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
When asked about Special Counsel Jack Smith’s actions, Burgum evaded the question once again, stating that he is not a lawyer but an entrepreneur who cares about the welfare of the American people. He expressed frustration that the conversation centered around Donald Trump and prevented him from introducing his own agenda.
It was not until the discussion shifted to his moral beliefs that Burgum affirmed his belief in Joe Biden’s victory in the election.
In summary, Governor Burgum’s appearance on This Week revealed his reluctance to comment on Trump’s indictment while emphasizing the need to focus on the future and addressing policy issues. Burgum seeks to distance himself from Trump and project himself as a candidate committed to improving the lives of all Americans.
