BREAKING: GOP Presidential Candidate Hospitalized, Debate Attendance Questionable

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was transported to a Milwaukee emergency room Tuesday after suffering an injury playing a pick-up basketball game with his staff, sources told CNN.

The injury places Burgum’s attendance in Wednesday’s GOP Primary debate in question.

Burgum is one of the eight candidates scheduled to participate in the debate, airing Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EST on Fox News. 

BREAKING: GOP presidential candidate, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, hospitalized hours before @FoxNews debate. Attendance at Republican debate uncertain. Campaign says he's out of the hospital now. pic.twitter.com/jzdZLa6cei

— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) August 23, 2023

CNN reports:

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was taken to a Milwaukee emergency room Tuesday after suffering an injury while playing a game of pick-up basketball with his staff, a source familiar with the situation tells CNN.

It’s unclear whether the 67-year-old presidential candidate will be able to stand for the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday night, putting his attendance now in question, the source said.

Burgum is one of the eight candidates in the debate lineup. All candidates are scheduled to visit the event site on Wednesday afternoon for a walk-through, and it’s unclear whether the North Dakota governor will participate.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’ve played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn’t the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes!” Burgum said Wednesday.

I’ve played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn’t the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes! 🇺🇸#TeamBurgum pic.twitter.com/5YL3rCEnCd

— Doug Burgum (Text "DOUG" to 70177) (@DougBurgum) August 23, 2023

Doug Burgum sent to ER after playing basketball ahead of GOP presidential debate https://t.co/m4FTbxRkmb pic.twitter.com/ajjOUAgBU7

— New York Post (@nypost) August 23, 2023

The New York Post added:

Burgum’s sports injury comes after several Republican presidential candidates have been posting videos online of them engaging in physical challenges in what appears to be attempts to show off their vitality regardless of age.

For example, Hutchinson on Sunday posted a video of himself being launched high in the air on a “slingshot” ride at the Iowa State Fair.

“I made you a promise. I said that if you all helped me reach the debate stage, I would ride the Slingshot at the #IowaStateFair,” he wrote A deal is a deal and I keep my promises,” he wrote on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

Even the youngest candidate to join the stage, 38-year-old Ramaswamy, has joined the trend.

He posted videos of himself fiercely swatting at tennis balls while shirtless and challenging his wife to burpees at the gym.