White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain responded to a report about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling it “ridiculous.”
Klain took to Twitter to respond to an Axios report titled, “Historic transportation crises haunt Buttigieg.”
Axios shared a link to the report on Twitter with the caption, “A historic string of air, rail and supply-chain meltdowns has plagued Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s first two years in office.”
A historic string of air, rail and supply-chain meltdowns has plagued Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's first two years in office.https://t.co/VjqzIq2olF
— Axios (@axios) January 12, 2023
Klain reacted to the report, saying, “This is a ridiculous take. As we have reopened the economy and accelerated its growth, there have been many challenges.”
He added, “[Secretary Pete] has done an incredible job in tackling them and getting America moving again — without the kind of disruptions we’ve seen in other countries.”
This is a ridiculous take. As we have reopened the economy and accelerated its growth, there have been many challenges. @SecretaryPete has done an incredible job in tackling them and getting America moving again — without the kind of disruptions we've seen in other countries. https://t.co/3SpKfVv3O9
— Jeff Zients Archived (@WHCOS46Archive) January 12, 2023
Some Twitter users fired back at Klain.
Columnist Ian Haworth replied, “Any thoughts on his months-long ‘paternity’ leave when no-one noticed he was gone?”
Any thoughts on his months-long “paternity” leave when no-one noticed he was gone? https://t.co/NeYAmKWN4d
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) January 12, 2023
One user suggested what is “truly ridiculous is the lack of accountability throughout the Biden administration.”
what is truly ridiculous is the lack of accountability throughout the Biden administration https://t.co/zOdnciYzSJ
— Robert Paduchik ☦️ (@Paduch) January 12, 2023
Columnist Boris Ephsteyn tweeted, “Tell that to the Americans stuck at all our airports yesterday. You and your team are hopeless and pathetic.”
Tell that to the Americans stuck at all our airports yesterday.
— Boris Epshteyn (@BorisEP) January 12, 2023
You and your team are hopeless and pathetic. https://t.co/BvmVWjFflo
The Axios report noted, on Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration had to temporarily ground all flights nationwide for the first time since 9/11.
Buttigieg was roasted on Twitter following the cancellations and delays, as IJR reported.
Republican lawmakers have also vocalized their criticism of Buttigieg.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) filed a bill requiring Buttigieg and his staff to fly commercial until an issue involving Southwest Airlines and the cancelations were investigated and resolved, as Fox News reported.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transportation told Fox News that 111 of Buttigieg’s 129 flights for his trips have been commercial.
“However, there are specific instances where the DOT Ethics Office approves use of the 9-seat FAA plane when it is more efficient and/or less expensive way for the Secretary and accompanying personnel to travel,” the spokesperson said. “This approach has saved taxpayer dollars.”
