Gov. Burgum: Assassination attempt on Donald Trump was 'one millimeter away from chaos.'

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a potential Republican vice presidential candidate, said on Sunday the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was “one millimeter away from chaos, one millimeter away from something historic.”

Burgum spoke to the California Republican delegation at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in the Historic Water Tower neighborhood on the eve of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

“Only by the grace and providence of God are we here today with smiles on our faces, celebrating,” Burgum said adding the delegation will nominate Trump for president. “President Trump was incredible before, all of you knew that, but now after yesterday I think he’s gone from just historically great to actually iconic.”

More: RNC delegates, Milwaukee residents react to Trump assassination attempt

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, was shot in the ear in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania on Saturday and traveled to Milwaukee on Sunday for the convention .

Burgum mentioned Trump with other assassination attempts on presidents including an incident that happened in Milwaukee more than 100 years ago .

“Andrew Jackson survived an assassination attempt, Theodore Roosevelt, right here in Milwaukee, was shot while giving a speech and carried on,” Burgum said. (Roosevelt was shot before he was to give a speech. The bullet hit Roosevelt in the chest, but was slowed by the contents of his pocket: a metal spectacles case and a copy of his very-long speech. He went on to deliver the speech a block away in what is now the Miller High Life Theatre.)

“And we saw with these historic leaders who have helped shape our country that President Trump is joining them.," Burgum said. "And now in the next four years he has a chance to cement that legacy.”

Potential vice presidential candidate

Trump has not named who he wants to be his vice presidential nominee but it has been reported that Burgum is on the short list for that position .

“Our party has never been more united, we’ve never been more on the same page, we’ve never had more of an opportunity to lift up everybody in this country than we do right now,” Burgum said.

Burgum cited the economic success of North Dakota as a example of what could be done in other states.

North Dakota is tied with South Dakota with the nation's lowest unemployment rate at 2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Senate Republican Joint Economic Committee ranks North Dakota with the second highest labor force participation rate.

“We’re still a place in North Dakota where neighbors help neighbors,” Burgum said. “When we talk about making America great again, I feel like I’m already living in that future in our state because of the things we’ve been able to do.”

Burgum is a big Trump supporter having endorsed him in each year he has ran for president.

“His policies help everyone. When we’re getting the economy going it lifts up independents and Democrats and Republicans,” Burgum said. “When we shrink government and make it more responsible, that helps everyone. When we attack the opioid crisis or the border, that helps everyone. The issues that President Trump drives forward are not partisan, his policies lift up our entire country.”

Taking on Biden administration

As governor, Burgum said “part of my job is to sue the federal government.”

“We’re engaged in over 30 different legal efforts to push back on the regulation, the red tape,” Burgum said.

Burgum said the Biden administration is trying to shut down U.S. energy “for some false promise that that will help the environment.”

“When we do that it raises the price for everybody in America,” Burgum said. “California, I’m sorry, you guys are paying the most of anybody in the country for gasoline.”

Burgum said if Trump is re-elected, he’s going to “unleash American energy and we’re going to start selling energy to our friends and allies and stop buying it from our adversaries.”

Burgum also called out the Biden administration on border security saying the issues with migrants crossing the southern border is not about immigration, “this is about national security.”

“The chance of a 9/11 type event happening in our future has gone up demonstrably because of Joe Biden’s open border policies,” Burgum said. “Every state is now a border state, every community is a border state.”

He encouraged the California delegation to talk with other voters “who may not agree with you.”

“We’ve got to get out between now and November and talk to people who are independents and say ‘Look, the policies of Donald J. Trump help you,’” Burgum said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Gov. Burgum: Assassination attempt on Donald Trump was 'one millimeter away from chaos.'