Biden administration Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a sharp response to Republicans who've criticized him amid a global supply-chain crisis, the result of Covid-19 disruptions paired with a boom in demand.
As the head of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), Buttigieg oversees the nation's public transportation programs and infrastructure, which includes highway, railroad, and maritime shipping.
But in a press briefing on November 8, Buttigieg outlined how his duties have become more complicated because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international trade.
You can hear Buttigieg's remarks in the video below.
Buttigieg: It's not that the ports are moving less goods. They're moving more goods than ever. It's just that it's still not keeping up with the demand. pic.twitter.com/QciQZnm9ap
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 8, 2021
Buttigieg said:
"The bottom line is... it's not that the ports are moving less goods, that they've somehow been less able to move. They're moving more goods than ever. It's just that it's still not keeping up with demand."
Buttigieg added though the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts "an all-time record high this year," there is still an "enormous pressure" system of international trade making disruptions to supply chains all the more apparent nationwide.
And though he noted the COVID-19 pandemic "is poking holes" in supply chains, he said the most valuable thing people can do is get vaccinated against COVID-19.
"The best way to end a pandemic-related shortage is to end the pandemic, and that's why the vaccine push is so important."
Many praised Buttigieg's remarks.
Pete is not only correct, but he is one of the most effective communicators have ever seen in government. https://t.co/ohy7RzM6gp
— Grifter Squad! (@VestigialToes) November 9, 2021
Bingo! This means a strong economy. https://t.co/Y0RTnF7mzr
— marley (@MarleyMfusa) November 8, 2021
Dang he's goooood. https://t.co/3LsJASkIsC
— Connor🏳️🌈 (@ConnorSmith5432) November 9, 2021
Get vaccinated. Get your kids vaccinated. Use basic hygiene for the good of public health to end this thing and go forward in a healthy way.#GetVaccinatedNow https://t.co/tUotaCymJ3
— Swimmingly (@tahirafaunealfo) November 9, 2021
I see the future this morning. Look at this brilliant person at the White House Press Room podium. Can you see him as president someday? I sure can! President Buttigieg: It has a certain ring to it. https://t.co/nDCrF7EnaW
— Charles T. White (@charlie_white) November 9, 2021
He's so damn good at explaining things. https://t.co/S6OquMOxey
— Make It Make Sense 🐝 🚂😎🙃 (@SnowflakeSnark) November 9, 2021
He's soooo very good at this. I sure hope our country is ready and willing to vote for a man, that happens to be gay, to be our President sometime soon. I'd like him to serve one more cabinet level post for the experience first then he'll have the Washington system down pat. https://t.co/h7eW0No6s6
— Wendy Cerne 🇺🇸 (@WendyCerne) November 9, 2021
My vote is for Pete Buttigieg. Always. America needs this man. https://t.co/ck3u1Zk3HJ
— 🇺🇸🅸🅽🅳🆈 🆁🅴🅵🆄🅶🅴🅴🇺🇸 (@mk_indy) November 9, 2021
PLEASE let this press conference mark the point from which @SecretaryPete is in charge of messaging for the democrats! He's so *clear*!! https://t.co/Zc2cP7keTp
— Jennifer McDermott (@tutordotwriter) November 8, 2021
Buttigieg was recently criticized by conservatives like Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert for taking paternity leave after he and his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, welcomed newborn twins.
Boebertmocked both Buttigiegs, pointing to a picture of the happy couple as she proceeded to accuse them of exacerbating the supply-chain crisis.
"So when the supply chains crisis means you can't celebrate Christmas like Mayor Pete and Chasten, you know who to blame."
At the time, Boebert used her experience giving birth in a truck to push back against the idea of paternity leave, saying "We have a world to save."
Buttigieg has said the United States needs to rethink its attitude toward parental leave, saying a change to existing laws are "about culture as well as policy."
