Burgum Endorses Trump Ahead of Iowa Caucuses

‘America needs a 180-degree change [from] the direction where Joe Biden has taken us,’ the former GOP presidential candidate said.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former 2024 Republican presidential candidate, announces his support for former President Donald Trump (R) as his wife, Kathryn, joins him onstage at a rally at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 2024. Gary Du/NTD

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has voiced his support for former President Donald Trump in the Republican Party’s presidential nomination after withdrawing from the race last month.

Mr. Burgum made a surprise endorsement of President Trump ahead of the Iowa caucuses at a rally in Indianola, Iowa, on Jan. 14.

“Four years ago, I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City,” the Republican said.

“And today, I’m here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done, and that’s endorse Donald J. Trump for the president of the United States of America.”

Mr. Burgum expressed his confidence in President Trump’s leadership, citing firsthand experience of working with him.

“I’ve seen the difference that President Trump can make because, remember when I first took office, President Obama was still president. Trying to work with his administration was a disaster,” the governor said.

“Then President Trump took office and everything changed. States like Iowa, states like North Dakota—heartland states—we were respected. We had a friend and a partner in the White House who understood us and who wanted to see our state succeed versus being regulated out of business.

“Now, I’ve had a chance as governor to see what the world is like under Joe Biden, and America needs a 180-degree change [from] the direction where Joe Biden has taken us,” he said.

Mr. Burgum expressed his opposition to President Joe Biden’s approach to the economy, energy, and national security. He said he believed the United States was “safe and prosperous” during the Trump administration.

“Tomorrow, when you caucus, you have an opportunity to send the message to the nation and send a message to the world that Donald J. Trump will make America great again,” he said.

Mr. Burgum, a prosperous software entrepreneur and second-term governor, withdrew from the race on Dec. 4, 2023, after failing to meet the Republican National Committee’s debate requirements.

Mr. Burgum didn’t qualify for the third debate because he did not poll at least 4 percent in two national polls or 4 percent in a national poll and two polls from the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina, according to the committee.

Additionally, he was unable to reach the standard of 70,000 unique donors to his campaign, which must include at least 200 from each of at least 20 states or territories. The candidate only narrowly qualified for the second debate, which took place in October in Southern California.

Rubio Endorses Trump

One-time rival for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is also backing President Trump in the 2024 race.

“When [President] Trump was in [the White House], I achieved major policies I had worked on for years … because we had a president who didn’t cave to special interests or let bureaucrats block us,” Mr. Rubio stated on X.

“That kind of leadership is the only way we will get the extraordinary actions needed to fix the disaster [President Joe Biden] has created,” he added.

Iowa Republican donor Bruce Rastetter on Jan. 13 offered his “full support” to President Trump, saying he believes the former president has what it takes to be “a fierce defender” of the agriculture industry.

Savannah Hulsey Pointer and Austin Alonzo contributed to this report.