Joe Biden picks Pete Buttigieg for key cabinet role: ‘I’m honoured’
The move would make Buttigieg the first out gay person confirmed to a cabinet post by the Senate.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Wiki
Pete Buttigieg has been selected for the role of US transportation secretary by Joe Biden.
The move would make Buttigieg the first out gay person to be confirmed to a cabinet post by the Senate.
Richard Grenfell, who is gay, briefly served in 2020 as acting Director of National Intelligence, a US cabinet-level office.
“Leader, patriot, and problem-solver”
Responding to the news on Twitter, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana Buttigieg said: “This is a moment of tremendous opportunity – to create jobs, meet the climate challenge, and enhance equity for all.
“I’m honored that the President-elect has asked me to serve our nation as Secretary of Transportation.”
He added in another tweet: “Innovation in transportation helped build my hometown, and it propels our country.
“Now is the time to build back better through modern and sustainable infrastructure that creates millions of good-paying union jobs, revitalizes communities, and empowers all Americans to thrive.”
This is a moment of tremendous opportunity—to create jobs, meet the climate challenge, and enhance equity for all.
I’m honored that the President-elect has asked me to serve our nation as Secretary of Transportation.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) December 16, 2020
Innovation in transportation helped build my hometown, and it propels our country.
Now is the time to build back better through modern and sustainable infrastructure that creates millions of good-paying union jobs, revitalizes communities, and empowers all Americans to thrive.
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) December 16, 2020
Biden meanwhile said in a statement: “Mayor @PeteButtigieg is a leader, patriot, and problem-solver. He speaks to the best of who we are as a nation.
“I am nominating him for Secretary of Transportation because he’s equipped to take on the challenges at the intersection of jobs, infrastructure, equity, and climate.”
Mayor @PeteButtigieg is a leader, patriot, and problem-solver. He speaks to the best of who we are as a nation.
I am nominating him for Secretary of Transportation because he’s equipped to take on the challenges at the intersection of jobs, infrastructure, equity, and climate.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 16, 2020
Biden and Buttigieg were previously Democratic presidential candidates until the latter dropped out of the race in March 2020.
Biden’s defeat of Republican leader and incumbent President Donald Trump was confirmed last week.
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