Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was quizzed by Daily Caller reporter Jenny Tare while walking in Washington, D.C. Tuesday evening, when she asked about the toxic train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio. Buttigieg was walking with what appeared to be her husband Chasten Buttigieg.
Secretary Pete declined to answer Taer’s questions, save for one, repeatedly telling him to check the “dozens” of interviews he’s already given today. When Thayer persisted, Buttigieg informed him that he was “taking some personal time.” He said he would go to East Palestine but would not say when.
Buttigieg crawled over and took a picture of her with his smartphone.
I asked Secretary Buttigieg about the crisis in East Palestine and I guess he didn’t like it so he took my picture. I am doing my job sir. @dailycaller pic.twitter.com/HjKNgF25FJ
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) February 22, 2023
In one of Buttigieg’s interviews on Tuesday, CBS News reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns challenged him to “not show up” for eastern Palestine. Buttigieg talked about respecting the bureaucratic process.
Transportation Sec. Buttigieg says he is “planning to go” to East Palestine, Ohio, but has not specified when he will visit.@CHueyBurns: “But, you ran for president. You understand politics better than most. And you know the importance of showing up. So why not go early?” pic.twitter.com/g1yoaBunNy
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2023
Buttigieg admitted that his initial response time to the toxic train wreck blew up.
“Would you like to talk sooner [on the Ohio train disaster]?”
Pete Buttigieg: “[I] I could have spoken sooner about how strongly I felt about this incident.” pic.twitter.com/pi6aCkz8jI
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 21, 2023
Buttigieg expressed dismay at President Trump’s visit to East Palestine on Wednesday.
Transportation Sec. Buttigieg on former President Trump’s planned visit to East Palestine, Ohio, on Wednesday:
“I don’t know exactly what they plan to do there, especially since their administration is anti-regulatory and pro-industry at every level.” pic.twitter.com/FSBCcHP1h3
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 21, 2023
In another interview Buttigieg would not commit to a specific day for the visit:
18 days after the toxic train derailment in Ohio, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tells a local TV station that he’s still “planning to come” to visit at some point — but won’t say when. pic.twitter.com/l1bd6PWcgt
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 21, 2023
Bloomberg reported Tuesday evening that Buttigieg was facing criticism from Republicans And Democrats on East Palestine’s handling of the toxic train wreck.
Criticism of US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s response to train derailment in Ohio that released toxic chemicals is growing and bipartisan https://t.co/EzZl573idl
— Bloomberg (@Business) February 21, 2023
This writer’s recommendation to the new White House Chief of Staff, Jeff Giants, is, “You’d better schedule your secretary’s personal time in the West Wing tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. and hand over a 9 a.m. plane ticket to East Palestine. What a train wreck.”
Attention: @WHCOS Jeff Giants, your secretary had better call for personal time in the West Wing tomorrow at 7 a.m. and hand over the plane ticket to East Palestine at 9 a.m. What a train wreck. https://t.co/kY3Cq0LBit
— Kristin Taylor (@KristinnFR) February 22, 2023
For those unfamiliar with her work, here’s a video of Jenny Tare reporting on last week’s shutdown of a DC refugee camp in a federal park two blocks from the White House.
It is not the secretary’s personal time to answer her questions.
Reporting from McPherson Square in Washington DC, where the city is clearing a deadly refugee camp @dailycaller pic.twitter.com/AEjMMKlJfr
— Jennie Taer (@JennieSTaer) February 15, 2023
