There could be 50 contenders on Donald Trump’s vice presidential shortlist — but there was room for only one of them on his campaign plane Saturday.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was a surprise addition to Trump’s manifest as he joined the presumptive GOP nominee for a short flight from LaGuardia Airport to Atlantic City, NJ.
Burgum and his wife Kathryn remained behind on the plane to speak privately with the former president before he stepped out on the tarmac and they all then motorcaded to a huge oceanside rally — in nearby Wildwood.
The Post spoke to Burgum after his speech at the New Jersey rally while he watched alongside his wife, asking him why he thought he was chosen to give the first speech of the night.
If the 80K projection comes to fruition, it will make Wildwood the largest rally thus far in Trump’s 2024 White House run. Aristide Economopoulos
Doug Burgum and his wife Kathryn arrive in New Jersey. Diana Glebova
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum arrives to speak before former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Wildwood. AFP via Getty Images
“First of all, it’s so important for the country that President Trump gets re-elected. As a governor having had the opportunity to serve under President Trump and President Biden, I get to see a front row seat on the difference in what leadership means. And so if the Trump team says ‘hey can you come and help out?’ we say ‘yes.’”
The Post asked Burgum if he had the opportunity to speak to Trump on the plane ride over.
“We did. And of course, there’s – President Trump, one of the things that’s so remarkable about him is how hard he works. And when he’s on that plane, every minute he’s on that plane, he and everybody on the team is working,” the governor said.
An aerial view of Trump’s rally on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey. Aristide Economopoulos
Burgum, rumored to be on Trump’s vice presidential shortlist, and his wife Kathryn remained behind on the plane to speak privately with Trump before he stepped out on the tarmac. AFP via Getty Images“This time we had Wendy’s, instead of McDonalds, as you know, you were there, but everybody’s working. It was great to see. Everybody on that team cares so deeply about that country.”
On reports he’s being considered for a Cabinet position or VP, Burgum deflected, saying Trump has said he still has dozens of people in mind.
“I dismiss sort of all of that. Because just a week ago at Mar-a-Lago, when someone asked him, during his remarks, he said that there was over 50 people on the shortlist. So the shortlist could be very long.”
“And I think everybody who cares about this country should be out helping the campaign for President Trump and that’s what the first lady and I are doing,” Burgum concluded.
Supporters set up beach chairs and picnicked on the sand ahead of Trump’s arrival. REUTERS
Voters waited behind crowd-control barriers Saturday as they waited to enter the rally site. REUTERSTrump called out Burgum on stage after the governor delivered his remarks at Wildwood, telling him to “get ready” for “something.”
“Another day at the beach,” Burgum told The Post with a grin after delivering his short but rousing speech to the raucous crowd on the beach, which Wildwood officials estimated was between 80,000 and 100,000, a record for a Garden State political rally.
“Donald Trump means strength, Joe Biden means weakness,” Burgum said. “If you want to make America strong again, you know what to do.”
Burgum, 67, unsuccessfully vied for the 2024 GOP nod before dropping out late last year — but unlike his fellow presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, he immediately endorsed Trump upon leaving the race.
Trump on Saturday shot down a report that Haley had vaulted into a top contender for the role.
“Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
