Pete Buttigieg Claps Back At Fox News For Questioning Husband's Travel

"Pete Buttigieg brought husband Chasten on military aircraft to attend sporting event in Netherlands" reads a Fox News headline from earlier this week, a non-scandal that's sent the right wing abuzz. The event referenced took place eight months ago when Buttigieg led the White House delegation to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, and Buttigieg had some thoughts on the pushback.

Fox's Bret Baier pressed Buttigieg on the issue, saying, "You also brought your husband Chasten on a military aircraft to attend this sporting event in the Netherlands."

Buttigieg chuckled and said, "Well, that's quite a spin to put on it."

When asked if it was reimbursed, he said, "Of course not." Meeting Baier's gaze, he reinforced, "I led a presidential delegation to support American wounded warriors and injured service members, the Invictus Games, as has been tradition for many years."

After noting it was one of the "great honors of my time in this job," he said the diplomatic protocol on a presidential delegation allows the principal to be accompanied by their spouse.

Buttigieg then delved into some of the work done with wounded Ukrainian soldiers on the trip before bringing up former Secretary of the Army Mark Esper taking his wife to the Invictus Games when he was under the Trump administration, as well as both Melania Trump and Michelle Obama having attended with their husbands before, too.

"I guess the question on my mind is, if no one's raising questions about why Secretary Esper and his wife led that delegation, as well they should have, then why is it any different when it's me and my husband?"

"Understood," said Baier before moving on.

The White House echoed Buttigieg's claims and told Fox News Digital, "It's standard practice for military aircraft to be provided for White House organized Cabinet-level presidential delegations."

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