North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum appeared alongside his wife Kathryn to endorse Donald Trump at a Sunday rally.
More than a month after dropping out of the 2024 Republican primary, Burgum became the first former candidate to endorse the former president.
It comes the day before caucuses at Trump’s last rally before the primary contest.
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North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum endorsed Donald Trump while appearing alongside the former president at a rally in Indianola, Iowa, on Sunday.
Just as he took the stage with his wife Kathryn, another explosion occurred after several protesters managed to reach the rally site the day before the Iowa caucuses.
‘Four years ago, I spoke on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City. And today I am here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done: endorse Donald J. Trump,” Burgum said.
The governor was among the presidential primary candidates, but dropped out of the race in early December without endorsing anyone.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, along with his wife Kathryn, endorsed Donald Trump at Sunday’s rally in Indianola, Iowa.
Burgum said that when Trump took office in 2017, “everything changed” since President Barack Obama was in office.
He said “core” states like Iowa and North Dakota were “respected” again.
“We had a friend and partner in the White House who understood us and wanted our states to succeed rather than be regulated out of business,” the North Dakota leader said.
He added: “Now, as governor, I have had the opportunity to see what the world is like under Joe Biden, and America needs a 180-degree change in the direction where Joe Biden has taken us.”
Burgum was still in the race for the Republican presidential nomination until December, when he did not qualify for the final Republican National Committee (RNC) debate.
He joined a crowded field for the race that was narrowed to just six candidates in the Iowa caucuses, although some candidates still have high-risk status. This includes former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Texas-based businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are also still in the race and fighting for second place against Trump.
Burgum’s endorsement comes during Trump’s latest push to get Iowans to rally for him on Monday in the nation’s first primary contest.
The start of Burgum’s endorsement was interrupted by a protester who interjected into Trump’s comments. She was the latest in a series of outbursts by climate activists who went so far as to oppose the former president’s candidacy and call him a “climate criminal.”
The woman was escorted out by security after at least three other people were also expelled from the room for displaying signs and shouting their environmental sentiments at the former president.
One protester was escorted from the room when her outburst disrupted the start of Governor Burgum’s endorsement of Donald Trump.
Although Burgum says he is the only 2024 candidate to endorse Trump after withdrawing, he is only the candidate who went the furthest to then end his candidacy and endorse the former president.
Larry Elder, who never qualified for a debate in the 2024 cycle, also endorsed Trump when he ended his presidential bid in October.
Fellow former candidate Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) endorsed Nikki Haley when she dropped her candidacy in early October.
Others have said they have no intention of endorsing anyone in the primary either.