North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who is a 2024 veepstakes contender, vouched for former President Donald Trump’s approach to tariff policy.
“I think if anybody looks at his actual record of negotiating with other countries, what he’s always looking for is balanced trade, and — not free trade, but balanced trade,” Burgum told “Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream, who had noted Trump’s proposal to replace income taxes with revenue from tariffs.
“We’ve got the largest economy in the world, all kinds of countries around the world, and it’s not just China, but France and others — they put tariffs on American products going their way, and it’s pretty simple for President Trump: If you’re going to tariff our stuff, we’re going to tariff yours,” Burgum said.
“And I think that he’s then negotiating on behalf of American workers and American companies when he does that,” he added. “And I think it’s also, again, he understands how to use power. You know, diplomatic, informational, our economic power is sometimes more powerful than military power. He knows how to wield that, and he’s going to be able to drive solutions that benefit America and benefit American workers.”
Burgum also talked about changing his mind since he said last summer, when he was running for the GOP presidential nomination before dropping out and endorsing Trump, that he would not do business with the former president.
“Since January, you know, when we endorsed him, when we dropped out, the first of the candidates to endorse him, had a chance to spend a ton of time with him since January, and I wish every American could see him the way Kathryn and I have got to know him in the last six months, because this guy is tireless, he’s committed, he’s smart, he’s funny. He’s nothing like he’s portrayed in the press,” Burgum said while mentioning his wife.
“And so if you asked me that same question today, I’d be like, ‘Absolutely, I would do business with him,’” Burgum added. “Because think about how successful he’s been, whether it’s a — whatever it is, I mean, whether it’s in TV, real estate, politics, all the things that he’s done, the guy knows how to get it done. And I think every American should be, I don’t know, we should be grateful that we’ve got someone who’s willing, with that kind of talent from the private sector that’s willing to put himself back into the presidential race again.”
