Kamala Harris Faces Scrutiny Over Comments on Pete Buttigieg

There’s been some buzz lately about comments made by former Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Pete Buttigieg, particularly in relation to the 2024 election and his sexual orientation. Some critics have pointed out that her remarks seemed to imply some form of bias against him.

During an interview with MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow, Harris was pressed to explain her decision not to choose Buttigieg as her running mate. Maddow pointed out, “You are the first elected vice president, a Black woman and a South Asian woman, so saying that you couldn’t select Buttigieg due to his being gay is difficult to comprehend.”

Maddow presses Harris in Buttigieg: says he couldn’t effectively join the ticket because he was gay. It’s difficult to hear.

Harris: No, no, no, that’s not what I said… It wasn’t about bias on my part. pic.twitter.com/zrm5tym8rl

– Alex Thompson (@Alexthomp) September 23, 2025

Harris quickly clarified her stance, insisting, “No, no, no, that’s not what I said. It wasn’t about him being gay.” She mentioned the intense time constraints they faced during the decision-making process.

She added, reflecting on her identity and the broader implications: “As a Black woman running for president alongside a gay male vice president, the implications are significant. It’s a heavy burden.” This led to some confusion; it seems she might be saying it wasn’t about Buttigieg’s sexual orientation per se, but rather the risks involved.

“I’m a lifelong advocate and ally of the LGBTQ+ community,” Harris asserted, to which Maddow nodded in agreement.

CNN reports that Kamala Harris’ support rating has plummeted since the election.

Harry Enten: “She’s not liked… Americans, they don’t want this.” pic.twitter.com/npxy7hxja6

– RNC Research (@Rncresearch) September 23, 2025

“It wasn’t about bias on my part,” she reiterated, describing the urgency of their timeline and the high stakes involved. Harris praised Buttigieg as “a phenomenal civil servant” and expressed that she believes America is ready for greater diversity in leadership. Yet, when the decision had to be made in a matter of weeks, she noted, “perhaps I was too careful… but that’s the choice I made.”

She concluded, “Like everything else in the book, I’m very open about it.” Many are left wondering how her comments will play out in the public eye moving forward.