Pete Buttigieg says Trump is ‘changing the subject’ as he fires back at POTUS for mocking his name

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has responded to President Donald Trump after the latter mocked his name in the Oval Office.

“We had a guy named Buttigieg. Boot-edge-edge, they say, is the best way. Just say two ‘edges,’ like off the edge of a cliff, which is where they were taking us, by the way,” Trump quipped.

The president accused the former Biden administration official of blowing “billions” on a modernization effort that went nowhere. “Hundreds of countries’ work companies… didn’t even work a little bit,” he alleged. 

Pete Buttigieg slams Trump over ATC failures and health-care costs

Buttigieg responded on X (formerly Twitter), accusing President Donald Trump of trying to shift attention away from his own failures.

“Other than mostly pronouncing my name right, everything he said was wrong,” Buttigieg said, calling Trump’s remarks “disgraceful” amid a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. “This system was in pretty rough shape by the time we took it over. We improved it, including launching a long-term communications fix that’s still underway.”

Buttigieg argued that when Trump left office, America’s air traffic control network was hanging by a thread and that the Biden administration had stabilized and modernized it. He also accused Trump of trying to “change the subject” from issues hitting Americans’ wallets.

“Why would the president be picking a fight with air traffic controllers today of all days?” Buttigieg asked. “Probably it’s to change the subject from how he and Republicans are increasing your health insurance premiums on purpose right now and from how he has totally failed on his promise to make everyday life more affordable.”

He went on to hammer Trump on the economy: “Right now, the president is losing on the economy because the American people can see how he’s failing, and people feel it every time they open up an insurance bill, every time they go grocery shopping.”

Buttigieg urged Democrats to stay focused. “So, for everyone who wants to see change, let’s stay focused. Let’s keep the pressure on, and let’s take the same energy that saw Democrats dominating election day last week and carry it into next year and beyond,” he told his followers.

 Trump blasts air traffic controllers as Pete Buttigieg fires back

This comes after Trump previously took to Truth Social and ordered air traffic controllers to “get back to work, NOW!!!” during the shutdown. “Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump warned, before promising rewards for those who didn’t take time off during what he called the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax.”

“For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” he wrote. “For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country.”

Trump told absentees they would be “quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering,” he said. “The last ‘Administration’ wasted Billions of Dollars trying to fix antiquated ‘junk.’ They had no idea what they were doing!”

Buttigieg quickly responded when he saw Trump’s tirade. “The President wouldn’t last five minutes as an air traffic controller… he has no business shitting on them now,” he shot back.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sided with Trump. “Air traffic controllers NEED to show up for work!” Duffy said, thanking those still on duty and promising to “work with Congress to reward” their service.

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