On Sunday, Fox News broadcast a townhall hosted by Chris Wallace with 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. To no one's surprise, Wallace questioned Buttigieg about President Donald Trump's attacks against him.
After Wallace asked Buttigieg to comment on the public appeal of the President's Twitter posts, the Indiana mayor replied:
"It is the nature of grotesque things that you can't look away."
When pressed earlier for his personal opinion, especially regarding Trump's attacks against him, Buttigieg said:
"The tweets are—I don't care."
The remark drew enthusiastic applause.
Afterward Wallace said:
"It's a great way to command attention."
Buttigieg answered:
"It's a great way to command attention from the media."
Buttigieg went on to state the United States needs to change:
"...the channel from this show [Trump] created."
In wrapping up his appearance on Fox News, Buttigieg stated:
"Look, what we’re trying to do here is different. Because the moment that we’re in is different. I get that a millennial, midwestern mayor is not what leaps to mind when you think about a prototypical candidate for president. But I also think we’re livingi—f it’s hard to figure out what’s going on right now, it’s because we are living on one of those blank pages in between chapters of American history. And what comes next could be ugly or it could be amazing."
Buttigieg added:
"And I believe running for office is an act of hope, and so is voting for somebody, and supporting somebody and volunteering for somebody. I hope you’ll join me in making sure that that next era is better than any we’ve had so far."
#ButtigiegTownhall later trended on social media with the majority of comments favorable toward the Democratic candidate.
The South Bend mayor is one of several Democrats to accept invitations to appear on Fox News. However others refused the offer.
In defense of his own position, Buttigieg said:
"If we ignore the viewers of Fox News and every news platform that doesn’t share our worldview, we will surrender our ability to speak directly to millions of American voters. If we don’t show up, the conservative media will tell our side of the story for us."
Watch the full townhall here.
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