United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg traveled on a military aircraft to the Netherlands with his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, to attend the Invictus Games, according to an official calendar uncovered by Americans for Public Trust (APT).
After obtaining the calendar and releasing their findings, the APT said Buttigieg’s trip was one of many government-funded gallivants, and it further proves the hypocritical nature of his office.
Buttigieg (and apparently his husband) have used government jets “on at least 18 occasions since taking office, despite arguing for aggressive climate change policies and carbon emission reductions,” according to APT.
On this specific occasion, Buttigieg traveled to Rotterdam, Netherlands for the event on a “MilAir Flight” before coming back on military aircraft.
Fox News reports:
“On April 15, Buttigieg traveled from Joint Base Andrews to Rotterdam, Netherlands, via “MilAir Flight” before returning two days later on military aircraft, the calendar obtained by Americans for Public Trust (APT) and shared with Fox News Digital showed. According to photos from the event and media reports, the transportation secretary traveled to the Netherlands with his husband.
President Biden announced that Buttigieg would lead a presidential delegation, which included lawmakers and fellow administration officials, to the Invictus Games days prior to the event in April. The event was founded by Prince Harry in 2014 as a multi-sport competition for wounded, injured, or sick soldiers and military veterans. Buttigieg joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014.”
According to Republican communications veteran Matt Whitlock, the Buttigieg duo’s trip to the Netherlands also included a meeting with British royalty: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle:
Using taxpayer dollars to take a military aircraft to Europe is bad enough – did you have to go hang out with Harry and Meghan!? pic.twitter.com/Q2Zh6oofVN
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 4, 2023
Whitlock then pointed out the double standard at play. Donald Trump’s Health Secretary, Tom Price, faced heavy media backlash and eventually resigned in September of 2017 after running up taxpayer bills on private and military travel.
However, Buttigieg, now caught on at least 18 occasions improperly using government-funded aircraft, has not received the slightest critiques from the mainstream media, according to Whitlock.
“Tom Price resigned for much less,” he writes.
Once again, the lack of media curiosity into Mayor Pete's taxpayer-funded use of private jets and military planes is pretty astounding when you recall how the media reacted to Tom Price. pic.twitter.com/5RIMPkLfq6
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 4, 2023
Buttigieg has been floated as a potential 2024 candidate after contending – but ultimately losing – in the Democratic primaries in 2020.
