Introduction
On May 10, 2019, President Donald Trump appeared on Fox and Friends and discussed many topics, including the Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Trump criticized Buttigieg's experience and suggested that he was not qualified to be President of the United States.
Trump's Comments on Buttigieg
During the interview, Trump stated that he did not think Buttigieg had the necessary experience to be President. He said, "I think he's got a lot of problems. He runs a failed city. His city is doing so badly." Trump also criticized Buttigieg for his lack of foreign policy experience, saying "He's got no experience in foreign policy. And, you know, he's got a lot of problems, which is fine."
Trump went on to say that Buttigieg was "way down" in the polls and that he did not believe he would be the Democratic nominee. He also suggested that Buttigieg was only getting attention because of his sexual orientation, saying "I think that he's getting a lot of play because he's openly gay."
Buttigieg's Response
Buttigieg responded to Trump's comments on Twitter, saying "I'm running for president to be the commander in chief, not the comedian in chief." He also criticized Trump for his lack of military service, saying "I have more military experience than the president and I have more executive experience than the president. I think I'm better qualified than he is."
Buttigieg also appeared on Fox News Sunday and discussed Trump's comments. He said, "I'm not going to be lectured on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Donald Trump. And I think we need to put an end to this politics of division."
Media Coverage
Trump's comments on Buttigieg received widespread media coverage, with many news outlets discussing the implications of the President criticizing a potential opponent. Some commentators suggested that Trump's comments were a sign that he was worried about Buttigieg's candidacy, while others criticized Trump for attacking Buttigieg's sexual orientation.
The interview also received attention for other reasons, including Trump's comments on China, North Korea, and the Mueller investigation.
Conclusion
Trump's comments on Buttigieg during his appearance on Fox and Friends sparked controversy and received widespread media coverage. Buttigieg responded to Trump's criticism on social media and in interviews, and the two continued to make headlines in the following weeks. As the 2020 presidential election approaches, it is likely that both Trump and Buttigieg will continue to be in the spotlight.