Gov. Burgum’s Interview With Jake Tapper Goes Sideways After He Bizarrely Claims CNN ‘Challenged’ the Results of the 2016 Election

The contentious clash Sunday morning between CNN’s Jake Tapper and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) went sideways after the governor made a bizarre claim about CNN and the 2016 election.

In a tense confrontation on State of the Union, Tapper asked Burgum about Trump’s comments in a pair of recent interviews — in which he refused to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election.

“You called the violence on January 6th ‘reprehensible,’ and you said it does not represent American values,” Tapper said. “Donald Trump is openly discussing right now pardoning all of the January 6th criminals. I think that you heard a song from them last night at the fundraiser. And those criminals, by the way, include those who have been convicted in an American court of violently attacking police. He’s talking about pardoning them, and he seems to be leaving the door open to potential violence if he loses. Again, based on comments you’ve made in the past, that must concern you.”

Burgum dodged the question by claiming there was a “bigger context” at play.

“[It’s] really about elections in America,” Burgum said. “I mean, you go back in my lifetime, 1960, it came down to one county. We talk about an election like it’s one thing in our country, but elections are still run at the state, the county and the precinct level. And in Cook County, it was very close between Kennedy and Nixon. And Nixon conceded. In 2000, they made movies about it. And that election was contested for two months, in the courts afterwards. And, it was, you know, it came down to Broward County and some hanging chads.”

From there, Burgum lobbed his wild accusation at CNN.

“In 2016, this network and many others challenged the results — falsely claiming that there was Russian interference.” Burgum said.

“We never challenged the results of the election,” Tapper said bluntly. “Nixon and Al Gore both conceded.”

“There’s plenty of stories supporting that,” Burgum said.

“I’m talking about the violent insurrection that you yourself have decried,” Tapper said.

Again, the North Dakota governor deflection.

“I’m looking forward to, next January when Vice President Harris certifies the election for Donald Trump,” he said.

The testy back-and-forth went on from there — with Tapper pressing Burgum on whether he believes President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, among other notable moments.

Watch above, via CNN.