North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced his presidential bid last week as a Republican candidate who wants to bring innovation and common sense to Washington. He appeared on “GMA3” on Monday where he criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the economy, immigration and energy, and also weighed in on the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Burgum said he was running for president because he believes the country needs a leader who can solve problems and unite people. He said he has a track record of doing that as a successful entrepreneur and as a governor who has led his state through the pandemic, natural disasters and social unrest.
“We need somebody who can bring people together, not divide them,” he said. “We need somebody who can innovate, not regulate. We need somebody who can create common sense solutions, not create more bureaucracy.”
Burgum said he was not afraid to challenge the status quo in his own party or in Washington. He said he supports term limits for members of Congress and wants to reform the tax code, the health care system and the education system. He also said he supports a balanced budget amendment and wants to reduce the national debt.
When asked about the Biden administration’s performance, Burgum said he was disappointed by its policies on energy, immigration and inflation. He said Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline and impose moratoriums on oil and gas leases was hurting American energy independence and security. He also said Biden’s border policies were creating a humanitarian crisis and a national security threat. He blamed Biden’s spending plans for fueling inflation and hurting consumers.
“We’ve got an administration that’s out of touch with reality,” he said. “They’re living in a fantasy world where they think they can print money and spend it without any consequences.”
Burgum also commented on the federal indictment of Trump and his company on tax fraud charges, saying he was concerned about the timing and the motivation of the prosecutors. He said he did not want to see the justice system politicized or used as a weapon against political opponents.
However, Burgum did not mention Trump by name during the interview, nor did he say whether he supported or opposed him. He said he was focused on his own vision and agenda for the country, not on other candidates or personalities.
“I’m running on my own merits, my own ideas, my own track record,” he said. “I’m not running against anybody. I’m running for America.”
