Peace Garden News

Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) said that former President Donald Trump (R) has an electoral advantage on economic and national security issues.

"Interest rates, inflation, the cost of a home, price of food, price of gasoline — President Trump wins on those,” Burgum posted on X, with a video of his recent appearance on Fox News. “On national security, literally he's a deterrent.”

“If you want to see the hostages come home, vote for Donald Trump because we will see exactly like we did when Jimmy Carter left office,” posted Burgum. “On the first day — Ronald Reagan — the hostages came home. That will happen again."

The average North Dakota household spent $30,103 in extra costs due to inflation since January 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) took office, reported Peace Garden News earlier this week.

That's according to an analysis of data released by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee.

As of August 2024, North Dakota experienced a 20.0% increase in prices of goods and services since January 2021, surpassing the national average of 20.3%.  

These prices resulted in an additional monthly cost of $1,150 per household.

The persistent increase in inflation has been driven by various factors, including supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and higher production costs. This overall rise in prices has placed additional financial strain on households across the state, making everyday expenses more challenging to manage.

In 2022, the high rates of inflation significantly reduced the real value of American wages, leading to widespread financial concerns, according to Statista. Many Americans expressed anxiety over the economy and reported worsening financial conditions. The inflation crisis in the United States, mirrored globally, was largely driven by COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On October 7, 2023, during a large-scale attack on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups abducted 251 hostages and took them to the Gaza Strip. These hostages included men, women, children, and elderly individuals, reported The Jerusalem Post.

Many of the hostages were Israeli, but nearly half were foreign nationals or held dual citizenship. As of the most recent updates, 97 hostages are still being held in captivity. This number includes the remains of at least 33 individuals who believed to be dead. Among the hostages, at least 7 are American citizens.

Burgum was first elected Governor of North Dakota in 2016 and won re-election in 2020. Before entering politics, Burgum had no prior elected experience. 

He was previously CEO of Great Plains Software, a company that developed accounting software, which he later sold to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion. Following the acquisition, he served as a senior vice president at Microsoft for several years. Burgum also is founder of the Kilbourne Group, a real estate development firm focused on revitalizing downtown Fargo. 

Born on August 1, 1956, in Arthur, North Dakota, Burgum grew up on his family farm and later graduated from North Dakota State University and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.