Karl Rove has endorsed North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the ideal running mate for former President Donald Trump, making his statement just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
While Trump has yet to officially announce his vice-presidential pick, speculation has centered on a few key figures, including Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Governor Burgum. Rove, however, believes Burgum is the best choice.
“Of the three names mentioned, Doug Burgum is not only the safe pick, but also gives Trump some advantage as he’s a successful governor of the second-largest energy-producing state in the union,” Rove explained.
“If you want to make energy an issue in the campaign, who better than that? But I think we need to remember that Donald Trump is not just the former president and potentially future president of the United States, but also the executive producer of The Apprentice,” he said, suggesting there “may be a couple of twists and turns before this thing is all done.”
Rove’s comments come as attention turns to Senator Vance, especially after news broke that Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to speak just before Trump’s running mate at the convention on Wednesday. Trump Jr. has openly expressed his preference for Vance as his father’s vice-presidential candidate.
“If we’re talking the VP stakes, what are you guys thinking right now?” Trump Jr. asked during a recent episode of his podcast, Triggered. “Everyone knows I’ve sort of been for J.D. Vance.”
He also shared a clip of Vance speaking, encouraging viewers to watch it.
“Stop what you’re doing and watch this right now if you want to know what America First is all about,” he remarked.
Notably, Governor Burgum has stated that he believes Trump can win regardless of his vice-presidential pick.
“If we actually look in political history, the last time a vice-presidential pick actually helped swing an election was when Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson, and Johnson helped Kennedy win that race,” he said.
“With President Trump, where he is with Hispanics, blacks, people under age 30, and independents, he’s very strong across the board. So he can pick someone focused on getting things done and helping him govern,” he added.