Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg offered a scathing evaluation of Vice President JD Vance's political convictions during a public appearance on Friday. The pointed commentary emerged during an interview at the prestigious Texas Tribune Festival in Austin, where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg pressed Buttigieg on his assessment of the vice president's ideological stance.
The Fascism Question
When directly asked whether he considers Vance to be a fascist, Buttigieg carefully avoided applying the label outright. Instead, he characterized the vice president as a "blood-and-soil nationalist" while suggesting Vance's political identity remains fluid based on ambition rather than principle.
"If it's convenient for him to be a fascist, he'll be a fascist," Buttigieg stated bluntly during the exchange. "Maybe later on, he'll go back to being a Silicon Valley Democrat. He'll be whatever he needs to be."
Historical Context of Vance's Political Evolution
Buttigieg reminded the audience of Vance's remarkable political transformation, specifically highlighting the vice president's previous harsh criticism of Donald Trump. "He is a guy who went from 'Donald Trump is Hitler' — that's what he said — to, you know, 'I've seen the error of my ways,'" Buttigieg noted, emphasizing the dramatic shift in Vance's political alignment.
This isn't the first time Buttigieg has called attention to Vance's political flexibility. During a July 2024 appearance on "Real Time With Bill Maher," Buttigieg similarly pointed out that Vance had previously described Trump as potentially being "America's Hitler," suggesting that such individuals will say whatever necessary to advance their political careers.
Pattern of Political Adaptation
Buttigieg's comments underscore a consistent pattern in his criticism of Vance's political methodology. "He'll be something new later on, maybe, but that's my point," Buttigieg added during the Texas Tribune interview, implying that Vance's current political positions may be temporary and subject to change based on convenience.
The full exchange, which has gained significant attention on social media platforms, reveals the ongoing tension between establishment political figures and what some describe as the new wave of political operatives willing to adapt their stated beliefs for strategic advantage.
