‘Who is that?’ Trump says he hired Doug Burgum after noticing his wife, sparks backlash | WATCH

Kathryn Burgum, wife of US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, speaks as US President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House on January 29, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Trump said he chose Doug Burgum as interior secretary partly because he was attracted to Burgum’s wife, Kathryn, after seeing them in a video. The comment drew criticism for prioritizing looks over qualifications, continuing Trump’s controversial behavior.

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US President Donald Trump on Thursday offered an unconventional explanation for his decision to hire Doug Burgum as US interior secretary. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump revealed that his primary reason for appointing Burgum was his attraction to Burgum’s wife, Kathryn, after watching a video of the couple riding horses together.

The remarks were made during the signing of an executive order addressing drug addiction. Doug Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, were present at the event, with Kathryn sharing her personal story of recovery and expressing her support for the initiative.

As the event concluded, Trump reflected on his first encounter with the couple, recounting how a campaign-style video featuring them had caught his attention. “I saw them riding horses in a video and I said, ‘Who is that?’” Trump recalled, gesturing toward Kathryn. “I was talking about her, not him.”

BREAKING: Trump just claimed that he hired Doug Burgum because he was attracted to his wife. What an awkward moment. "I saw them riding horses in a video. And I said, 'Who is that?' I was talking about her, not him. I said, 'I'm gonna hire her,' because anybody that has… pic.twitter.com/BE7BqEql0T

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 29, 2026

Trump went on to explain that his staff had filled him in on who the couple was, and that was enough for him to decide to hire Burgum. “They explained it, and I said, ‘I’m going to hire him,’ because anybody that has somebody like you to be with, it’s an amazing tribute,” he added.

While the president also praised Burgum’s credentials, highlighting his success as a businessman and a two-term governor of North Dakota, he repeatedly emphasized Kathryn’s role in that success. “It’s a great couple, amazing couple, and she is very much a part of his big success,” Trump stated. He continued to speak highly of Burgum, adding, “He did a fantastic job — North Dakota. And he’s done a great job, and I’ll tell you what, Kathryn is a very big part of it.”

Trump’s comments, however, quickly drew criticism, with many questioning the appropriateness and tone of his explanation for Burgum’s appointment. The remarks were seen as part of a troubling pattern of the president making comments about women that focus on their appearance rather than their qualifications. This follows a history of Trump using derogatory terms for women he opposes, including calling them “fat pigs,” “dogs,” and “slobs.”