Biden’s Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was slammed by conservatives on social media on Friday after he mocked former President Trump for showing “weakness” by refusing to debate Vice President Harris in September.
“Has a presidential candidate ever agreed to a debate and then backed out? A stunning show of weakness,” Buttigieg wrote on X, drawing ridicule from conservatives who argued that former President Trump had agreed to a debate with Biden, not Harris, and that Harris’ withdrawal from the race effectively meant she withdrew from the scheduled debate.
“Yes, Biden. Literally last weekend,” CNN’s Scott Jennings said. Posted in X.
“Joe Biden agreed to two debates but then withdrew from the campaign entirely after the first one,” pollster Frank Luntz said. Posted in X.
Republicans, believe me: Kamala Harris is a strong candidate. Don’t underestimate her.
Donald Trump will arrive at Trump Tower on May 30, 2024. (Felipe Ramares for Fox News Digital)
“The only person I can think of is Joe Biden, right?” Molly Hemingway of The Federalist Posted in X.
“It’s surprising that Pete would attack his boss, Joe Biden, so vigorously,” Fox News contributor Guy Benson said. Post to X“He has clearly withdrawn from the race (and the second debate) against his will. Undeniable weakness aside, let’s give him a moment of peace.”
Flashback: New senior adviser to Harris campaign makes insensitive remarks about women and gays
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made the remarks during a press conference near the site of the Norfolk Southern Railroad derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 23, 2023. (Matthew Hatcher/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This is the kind of brazen tactic you’d take only if you knew the media was running an all-out campaign in your favor,” says National Review’s Charles C. Cook. Posted in X.
Fox News Digital reached out to Buttigieg’s office and the Harris campaign but did not receive a response.
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in the Rose Garden at the White House as President Biden looks on, July 26, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
President Trump said earlier this week that he would be open to multiple debates with Vice President Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
“Of course. I would love to. I think that’s important,” Trump said on a conference call Tuesday with Fox News reporter Bill Melgin, when asked if he would commit to a presidential run. Debate with Harris At least once.
“In fact, I intend to participate in one or more debates,” Trump said, before a few minutes later pointing out that “I haven’t agreed to anything. I’ve just agreed to a debate with Joe Biden.”
The Trump campaign announced Thursday that Trump would not participate in a debate until Democrats had finalized their nominee, saying “it is entirely possible that Democrats could change their mind and it would be inappropriate to schedule a debate with Harris.”
Vice President Harris criticized the Trump campaign’s position as a “backslide.”
