Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) argued the United States needs to put “maximum pressure” on Iran to address the war in Gaza, and that the current administration’s efforts are “not working.”
Burgum’s comments come almost a year after the Hamas terrorist group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which the North Dakota governor argued is Israel’s equivalent to 9/11. The governor made a visit to Israel last week, during which he met with the families of the Hamas hostages. He accused the U.S. of incentivizing hostage-taking by other countries when it paid $6 billion to Iran to release five hostages.
“So we have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with Israel, but if you want to stop the escalation, we have to put maximum pressure on Iran,” Burgum said on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream. “We’re not doing that under this administration. President Trump did that. President Trump was proven that he was able to financially reduce Iran’s ability to fund all these terrorists.”
When pressed on whether the Biden administration’s efforts to increase sanctions on Iran should be commended, Burgum contended this was merely a “talking point.” He added that these new sanctions are “not working,” as Hamas’s budget would have gone down if the sanctions were effective.
Burgum also suggested that those who want Hamas to release the remaining hostages should vote for former President Donald Trump, comparing the change in power to when hostages held by Iran were released when Ronald Reagan succeeded then-President Jimmy Carter in the White House in 1981.
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“That will happen again, because Iran knows that President Trump will be coming with sanctions and with things that will put them back where they were before when he was in office,” Burgum said.
Burgum revealed in July that Trump referred to him as “Mr. Secretary,” a hint that the North Dakota governor may have a Cabinet position if Trump wins in November. Burgum was rumored to be on Trump’s short list for vice presidential candidates, though Trump ultimately selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).