Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg firmly defended Vice President Kamala Harris’ qualifications on Sunday after Fox News host Shannon Bream suggested she was unfit to lead the country. During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Bream referenced a conservative New York Times columnist who had labeled Harris’s candidacy as “anti-democratic,” accusing ruling parties in autocratic states of similar tactics.
“You know the optics of this, that it was donors who pulled the plug on President Biden and they’re the ones calling the shots about how this proceeds,” Bream said. Buttigieg responded, “Well, it’s true that the Democratic Party is not famous for falling in line. That’s part of why it’s so remarkable that in a matter of days, Kamala Harris has consolidated our big tent party.”
He continued, “And this is something that is coming from the ground up. You can feel it. And it’s a level of energy that, frankly, I haven’t seen on the campaign trail in a long time.” Bream countered by pointing out that Harris had not received any Democratic delegates during primary voting.
Buttigieg disagreed, stating, “The idea that somebody hasn’t been tested or vetted when they have been the vice president of the United States for nearly four years just doesn’t make any sense. She is in obviously one of the most visible leadership roles in the country.”
He added, “And she’s demonstrated both her effectiveness in that job and a vision for the country that Americans agree with. And that’s a real reason I think she’s going to win, is that most Americans already agree with her on the issues that they care about the most, that affect them the most, whether we’re talking about choice and her stance on defending a woman’s right to choose versus Donald Trump, who eliminated a right to choose in this country.”
Buttigieg’s defense highlights Harris’s experience and visibility as vice president, countering claims of her being untested. His comments also emphasize the grassroots support and energy within the Democratic Party, reinforcing Harris’s alignment with American values on key issues.