Rupert Murdoch is advocating for North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to be chosen as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, while also actively working against Senator J.D. Vance.
The former media magnate has been personally contacting the ex-president, encouraging him to consider Burgum for the position and has dispatched representatives and aides to Mar-a-Lago to support his recommendation.
Although the 93-year-old billionaire initially supported Ron DeSantis for the next Republican presidential candidate, DeSantis performed poorly in the primary elections and dropped out before Super Tuesday.
When it became inevitable that Trump would be the nominee, Murdoch went behind the scenes to try and put his stamp on the GOP ticket.
As the running mate race intensified, he used his U.S. publications to help further his campaign.
The Wall Street Journal endorsed Burgum and the New York Post have also written editorials boosting the governor, who had a relatively low profile before he ran for president.
A source confirmed to DailyMail.com that Murdoch has been heavily invested in Trump’s veepstakes.
The Donald is expected to announce his pick at the Republican National Convention next week, and has continued to tease his shortlist of candidates.
Burgum, Vance and Florida Senator Marco Rubio are the favorites, while South Carolina’s Tim Scott is also believed to be under consideration.
The Murdoch lobbying effort, first reported by NOTUS, has included multiple calls in a day.
His plan is also likely to face significant roadblocks.
Trump likely won’t forget the glowing coverage Murdoch’s news outlets gave DeSantis to boost him in the early stages of the race.
It didn’t work, as DeSantis was blown away by Trump’s primary victories in the early states.
A Fox News communications consultant told NOTUS: ‘Rupert has always viewed Trump as subservient to him.
‘And it bothers him. He’s not looking forward to another four years where he’ll have to kiss Trump’s ass. They don’t want Trump on Fox, so they get Burgum on there and groom him for the next four years and make him president.
‘That’s his way of ending Trumpism.’
A Trump advisor said: ‘Through his media outlets, they’re running the same exact playbook against J.D. and in support of Burgum as they did against DJT and in support of DeSantis during the primary’.
When Trump first ran for president in the 2016 general election, he was a frequent guest on Fox News.
Murdoch and his media empire were seen as driving forces that helped propel him to the nomination and his victory over Hillary Clinton.
Since then their relationship has been anything but cordial, and has deteriorated since January 6 and the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit that forced Murdoch to pay $787 million in damages.
During the case, internal communication from Fox executives including Murdoch showed they were skeptical of Trump’s claim the election was stolen.
When Murdoch retired as the head of Fox and News Corp in 2023, Trump said: ‘Many people are saying that, ‘You forced Rupert Murdoch into retirement!.
‘I do not believe this is so, but while we’re at it, how about getting rid of ‘Democrat’ Mitch McConnell, who gives the Radical Left Lunatics, together with his small band of automatic ‘yes’ votes, EVERYTHING they want.’
Trump also called him a ‘globalist’ who was committed to stopping him run for president.
A New York Post front page in November 2022 had the headline ‘Trumpty Dumpty’, after Republicans underperformed in the midterms.
DailyMail.com has reached out to News Corp for comment.