Buttigieg ‘joke’ about supply chain prior to Christmas criticized
Biden announced a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles
Biden admin scrambles as supply chain disruptions worsens
Republicans Greg Steube and Nicole Malliotakis weigh in on what's the cause of the crisis on 'The Evening Edit'
Too soon?
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faced criticism on social media Wednesday after appearing to make light of the possibility that the supply chain issue could impact Christmas gift-giving.
He was asked during an interview with CNN about the millions of Americans who celebrate the approaching holiday and the possibility that there could be a supply shortage for various goods and presents.
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"I think there have always been two kinds of Christmas shoppers," he said. "There’s the ones who have all their list completed by Halloween, and then there’s people like me who show up at the mall on Christmas Eve…if you’re in that latter bucket, obviously there’s going to be more challenges."
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrives for a television interview with CNBC outside the White House October 13, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images / Getty Images)
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His attempt at levity was seized by the Republican National Committee that posted the video on Twitter, saying the former Indiana mayor made a joke "about how difficult it will be for families to get Christmas presents this year."
"Between mandates and crumbling supply chains, the Biden admin actually seems determined to cancel Christmas," Ronna McDaniel, the head of the RNC tweeted.
The Transportation Department did not immediately respond to an after-hours email from Fox News.
President Joe Biden announced a deal on Wednesday to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles as prices keep climbing and container ships wait to dock in a traffic jam threatening the U.S. economy and holiday shopping.
Prices are jumping in large part because container ships are stranded at ports and because unloaded goods are waiting for trucks, leading to mass shortages and delays that have caused a longer than expected bout of inflation.
The rising costs are eating into worker pay, creating a drag on growth and driving Republican criticism of Biden just as his multitrillion-dollar tax, economic, climate and infrastructure agenda is going through the crucible of congressional negotiations.
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Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., told "Fox New Primetime" that the Biden administration waited too long to act.
"The White House is saying that that's you're probably not going to be able to get everything you want for Christmas," he said. "Well, I mean, who's going to save Christmas for Americans? Pete Buttigieg? I mean, please. Pete Buttigieg couldn't organize a one-car funeral. He's not going to organize our nation's ports and railroads and highways and airports."
The Associated Press contributed to this report