On Thursday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sharply criticized former President Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, accusing them of promoting a “dark” vision for America in the current election cycle. Buttigieg expressed confidence that the American public would reject this negativity, stating, “Darkness is what they are selling, but I don’t believe that America today is in the market for darkness.”
Buttigieg contrasted their approach with the more positive and inclusive politics represented by Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He described their political vision as one that brings both joy and empowerment, suggesting that it is the kind of politics that people would rather embrace.
Buttigieg expresses confidence in the American public rejecting negativity in favor of Harris and Walz’s inclusive politics
In a lighter moment, Buttigieg, who had competed against Harris in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, made a humorous remark about his frequent appearances on Fox News. “Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: I’m Pete Buttigieg, and you might recognize me from Fox News,” he joked, underscoring his commitment to engaging with diverse audiences to promote what he views as a good cause—electing Harris and Walz as the next leaders of the United States.
Buttigieg also took aim at Senator Vance for his previous statements suggesting that Americans with children have a greater stake in the future than those without. Drawing from his own experience as a military veteran, Buttigieg recounted his deployment to Afghanistan, pointing out that although he didn’t have children at the time, his commitment to the country’s future was unequivocally strong and physical.
Reflecting on his personal life, Buttigieg, who is a father of 3-year-old twins with his husband, Chasten, highlighted how his family’s existence would have been unimaginable just 25 years ago. He used this point to argue for a more forward-looking and inclusive political discourse, saying, “All of it compels us to demand more of our politics than re-runs of some TV wrestling death march.”
In his remarks, Buttigieg emphasized the need for a political future that moves beyond the negativity and divisiveness, urging Americans to choose a path that fosters unity and progress.
