North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who dropped out of the GOP presidential primary in December, endorsed former President Donald Trump on Sunday at Trump’s last in-person rally before the Iowa caucuses.
“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,” Burgum said at Trump’s rally in Indianola.
Burgum, who had launched a long-shot bid for president, said, “Under President Trump, America was safe and prosperous, and tomorrow when you caucus, you have an opportunity to send a message to the nation and send a message to the world that Donald J. Trump will make America great again. Thank you very much, Iowa.”
“States like Iowa, states like North Dakota, heartland states — 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,” Burgum told the crowd.
Trump said he was “very impressed” with Burgum as he introduced him to the stage and touted his credentials as a businessman.
“I was very impressed with him. He ran in the primary, I thought he was just outstanding and he’s got an incredible record,” Trump said.