During an appearance on Fox News Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended taking his husband on a military jet to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands as a part of the American delegation while expertly embarrassing Fox News host Bret Baier from trying to create a controversy over the trip.
According to a calendar obtained by non-profit Americans for Public Trust, Buttigieg flew with his husband Chatsen from Maryland’s Joint Base Andrews to Rotterdam in a government plane in April last year.
During the interview, Baier pulled up Buttigieg’s travels and called the trip “controversial” before if he had reimbursed the government.
“Was that reimbursed?” Baier asked, adding that it was “one of the controversies”.
“Of course not,” Buttigieg replied.
“I led a presidential delegation to support American wounded warriors and injured service members – the Invictus Games as has been tradition for many years.”
Transportation Secretary also pointed out that the Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 to honour military veterans and wounded soldiers.
“I led the American delegation as one of the great honours of my time in this job. And the diplomatic protocol on a presidential delegation is that the principal is often accompanied by their spouse. It was a great trip. Incredible,” he continued.
Buttigieg said that, prior to his trip, several American officials have had their partners accompanying them to the Games.
“Before me, it was the secretary of the army under president Trump who took that trip with his wife. Before that, it was Mrs Trump as first lady who went. Before that, Mrs Obama did the same thing.
“And I guess the question on my mind is, if no one’s raising questions about why secretary [Mark] Esper and his wife led that delegation, as well they should have, then why is it any different when it’s me and my husband?”
“Understood,” Baier replied.
Watch the exchange below:
Wow. Pete Buttigieg just embarrassed Bret Baier. pic.twitter.com/L2xrICja46
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) January 6, 2023
