Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized former President Donald Trump on Sunday for his recent comments about child care.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Buttigieg told anchor Dana Bash that Trump’s response to questions about child care was unclear. “When Donald Trump was asked about child care recently, it wasn’t evident that he even understood the question,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg was referring to Trump’s remarks made Thursday at the Economic Club of New York. During the event, when asked if he would prioritize legislation to make child care more affordable, Trump spoke for two minutes without detailing any specific proposals. Instead, he suggested that tariffs could cover child care costs.
“You have to have child care in this country,” Trump said. “But when you talk about those numbers compared to the kind of numbers I’m discussing—by taxing foreign nations at levels they aren’t used to but will adapt to quickly.”
White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates pointed out in a Friday interview that economists from all political backgrounds agree tariffs would raise the cost of goods, including those needed for child care. “If you can make sense of that answer, you’re a better detective than I am. These tariffs could lead to a $4,000 tax increase on working families,” Bates said.
In the CNN interview, Buttigieg also highlighted the Biden administration’s efforts to expand the Child Tax Credit and establish paid family leave—initiatives that have been blocked by Republicans.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung responded to Buttigieg’s comments in an email to The Hill. “Pete Buttigieg is making himself a joke and proving once again that he’s desperate for attention. The truth is, nobody takes him seriously, and he’s the laughingstock of politics,” Cheung said.