Burgum walked into Randy’s shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, shaking hands, greeting and hugging patrons as he went through the restaurant.
FARGO, N.D. — Pamela Leath says she is an avid watcher of Fox New and loves “Fox & Friends,” the national news channel’s morning show.
So it isn’t a surprise that the West Fargo woman was the first person in line at 3 a.m. Monday, July 1, outside Randy’s Diner Too, waiting for a seat in the West Fargo restaurant and her chance to see “Fox & Friends” air live inside the eatery.
“I think it is a wonderful opportunity to show off our community and how family oriented we are,” she said of “Fox & Friends” coming to West Fargo.
Leath and dozens of others waited patiently in line before Randy’s opened its doors shortly before 5 a.m. Monday. When the restaurant was packed, the customers cheered as “Fox & Friends” co-anchor Brian Kilmeade greeted America. His co-hosts appeared from New York.
People line up outside Randy’s Diner Too in West Fargo, N.D., before 5 a.m. on Monday, July 1, 2024, to attend a live broadcast of “Fox & Friends” with co-anchor Brian Kilmeade. (Chris Flynn / Forum News Service)
Kilmeade broadcast from West Fargo because North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is on a “short, short, short list,” as Kilmeade put it, of finalists who could become former President Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump, who appears frequently on “Fox & Friends,” has made glowing remarks about Burgum to Kilmeade, the co-anchor told The Forum newspaper on Monday.
“I think Trump loves the fact that they’re kind of in the same mindset,” Kilmeade said when asked about Burgum’s potential to be Trump’s vice president. “We did our thing in business. Now it’s time to help the country.”
Burgum walked into Randy’s shortly before 6 a.m. Monday, shaking hands, greeting and hugging patrons as he went through the restaurant. He then sat down with Kilmeade for a live interview, possibly with more than a million people watching on their televisions across the country.
“We were thrilled to welcome ‘Fox & Friends’ to North Dakota and share with them the best of America,” Burgum said in a statement to The Forum. “First Lady Kathryn and I were grateful for all the support from North Dakotans this morning.”
The Fox News morning show’s visit to West Fargo — it was its first to North Dakota — is part of a “Breakfast With Friends” series during which “Fox & Friends” will interview reported Trump running mate finalists in their home states. Trump has said little about who the finalists are, though media reports suggest Burgum, along with U.S. Sens. J.D. Vance, of Ohio, and Marco Rubio, of Florida, are the top picks to be the presumed Republican presidential nominee’s right-hand man.
Trump has said he will announce his running mate around the time of the Republican National Convention, which runs July 15-18 in Milwaukee.
Burgum has served as North Dakota’s governor since 2016. His office suggested Randy’s as a location for the “Fox & Friends” interview.
Randy’s owner Heidi Roggenkamp said her staff served roughly 300 people during the three-hour show.
“I think it just shows that people were excited to draw some attention to our community,” she said. “When they have a show that’s called ‘Breakfast with Friends,’ that’s literally what we do every single day.”
People complimented the food and service, and the crowd was positive and respectful, Roggenkamp said. She said she was excited to show customers how hard her staff works.
“To me, that was the biggest thing,” she said of her staff. “I was so excited for them.”
‘He will do it’
Burgum ran for president but ended his campaign in December amid low polling numbers.
In January, Burgum decided not to seek a third term as the state’s leader. Since then, he has spent a significant amount of time campaigning for Trump, raising speculation that he could be the former president’s running mate.
Trump also has teased an announcement about Burgum, possibly as part of his cabinet.
Burgum has been critical of Trump in the past, though more so of President Joe Biden. The Democrat defeated Trump in 2020 and will face Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Biden is harmful for North Dakota and the U.S., Burgum has said, adding Trump has the best chance to beat the Democrat.
Kilmeade interviewed Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, at their ranch near Fargo. The governor said he would do business with Trump now that he’s gotten to know him.
“He’s focused and cares deeply for this country,” Burgum said of Trump during the interview.
When asked if he wants to be vice president, Burgum said he wants to be in the spot where he and his wife can make the most impact.
Before becoming governor, Burgum created Great Plains Software before selling it to Microsoft in 2001. He also founded the Kilbourne Group, a real estate development firm, and co-founded Arthur Ventures, which invests in software companies.
Burgum used his experience as a successful businessman to serve as governor, Kilmeade told The Forum. Burgum can help Trump get the presidency and help him lead the country, Kilmeade said.
“All he does his entire life is execute,” Kilmeade said of Burgum. “If you give Doug Burgum a job, his whole career indicates he will do it and do it well.”
North Dakota native and actor Josh Duhamel and U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., also appeared at Randy’s.
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