Buttigieg Responds to Trump’s Criticism, Hints at 2028 Run During Iowa Visit
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed recent criticisms leveled against him by President Donald Trump and his Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, all while fueling speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid with a high-profile visit to Iowa. During a town hall meeting with veterans in Cedar Rapids, Buttigieg fielded questions from reporters, carefully navigating inquiries about his future political ambitions and former President Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities.
Buttigieg’s Iowa trip, a state where he famously won the 2020 Democratic caucuses, has ignited considerable discussion about his potential return to the national stage. While publicly maintaining that he is "not running for anything" at the moment, his actions, including gathering with former campaign staff and being followed by a videographer from his political group "Win the Era," suggest otherwise. This strategic visit underscores the importance of Iowa as a launching pad for presidential aspirations, even though the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has relegated the state from its traditional leadoff position in the 2024 primary calendar. The future of Iowa’s early state status remains uncertain for the 2028 election cycle, adding another layer of intrigue to Buttigieg’s activities.
The timing of Buttigieg’s visit is particularly noteworthy, occurring less than a month into Trump’s second term, fueling the narrative that Democrats are already actively strategizing for the 2028 presidential race. His decision to forgo a potential 2026 Senate run in Michigan, his adopted home state, further reinforces the perception that his focus is firmly set on a future national campaign. In a recent interview, Buttigieg acknowledged that he would consider "what I bring to the table" when contemplating a 2028 bid, hinting at a deliberate self-assessment process. He emphasized that his current focus is on "campaigning for values and for ideas rather than a specific electoral campaign," a strategic approach that allows him to remain politically relevant while avoiding a formal declaration of candidacy.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, received encouragement from audience members in Cedar Rapids, who expressed their continued support and willingness to back him in 2028. Buttigieg acknowledged their sentiments, stating that it "means a lot to hear that people who supported me then continue to believe in what I have to say." The town hall event, hosted by VoteVets, a prominent progressive group representing veterans and military families, drew a significant crowd, with approximately 1,800 attendees, demonstrating Buttigieg’s enduring appeal within key Democratic constituencies.
Buttigieg’s visit to Iowa comes amidst a barrage of criticism from President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy regarding flight delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport, a major transportation hub serving the New York City metropolitan area. Duffy has attributed the problems to the Biden administration’s alleged failure to adequately upgrade the airport’s air traffic control system, directly implicating Buttigieg’s tenure as transportation secretary. Trump echoed these sentiments, claiming that Buttigieg "didn’t have a clue" during his time in office and questioning his presidential viability.
These attacks follow Buttigieg’s earlier jab at Trump, highlighting his historically low approval ratings at the 100-day mark of his presidency. The Trump administration contends that Buttigieg oversaw a flawed transition of Newark’s airspace to the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (Tracon) last July. Secretary Duffy has unveiled a new plan to overhaul the nation’s aging air traffic control system and accused the Biden administration of contributing to the recent operational challenges, including equipment outages. He even went so far as to suggest that Buttigieg’s remote work arrangement and residency in Michigan may have hindered his focus on critical issues within the nation’s airspace.
In response, Buttigieg defended his record as transportation secretary, emphasizing that his priority was to "fix tough problems" rather than engaging in blame-shifting. He highlighted the fact that his administration reversed a shrinking air traffic control workforce and initiated efforts to implement necessary technological upgrades. Buttigieg also offered a subtle jab at his successor, suggesting that Duffy should prioritize workforce growth and technological advancements.
Adding another layer of complexity to Buttigieg’s visit were the recent revelations from a new book detailing Biden’s alleged mental and physical decline during his final years in the White House. When asked directly about Biden’s cognitive abilities, Buttigieg carefully avoided a definitive assessment, instead sharing his personal experiences working with the former president. He emphasized that Biden was consistently responsive and engaged during their interactions, particularly during the Baltimore bridge collapse crisis. Buttigieg described Biden as being the same decisive leader in the Oval Office as he was publicly, "insisting that we do a good job, do right by Baltimore."
However, when pressed on whether the Democratic Party would have been better off had Biden not sought re-election in 2024, Buttigieg offered a more nuanced response, stating, "maybe…right now with the benefit of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that’s the case." This statement alludes to the challenges Biden faced during his re-election bid and the potential strategic advantages of a different candidate. The article then veers into a hypothetical scenario where Biden withdrew from the race after a poor debate performance and was replaced by Kamala Harris, who subsequently lost to Trump in November.
