White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took aim at former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during a press briefing, criticizing his handling of infrastructure and transportation policies under the previous administration. Her remarks come as the Trump administration continues to reverse and overhaul initiatives implemented during President Joe Biden’s tenure.
Leavitt highlighted what she described as Buttigieg’s failures in addressing key transportation issues, including supply chain disruptions, airline industry setbacks, and infrastructure project delays. She argued that his leadership contributed to inefficiencies that the current administration is now working to correct.
The criticism follows Trump’s broader push to dismantle policies from the previous administration, particularly in areas where officials believe government mismanagement led to economic and logistical challenges. Leavitt emphasized that the White House is prioritizing reforms aimed at improving transportation networks, reducing regulatory burdens, and ensuring more effective oversight of critical infrastructure projects.
Buttigieg, who left his role as Transportation Secretary at the end of Biden’s presidency, has yet to respond to the comments. However, his tenure faced scrutiny for handling crises such as supply chain bottlenecks and major airline cancellations, issues that opponents argue were not effectively managed.
Leavitt’s remarks signal that the Trump administration will continue to hold former officials accountable for policies it views as detrimental to economic and logistical efficiency. As the administration moves forward with its transportation agenda, the debate over past management of federal infrastructure projects is expected to remain a key political battleground.