Lee Daniels Endorses Pete Buttigieg For President

Director and producer Lee Daniels (Empire, Precious, The Butler) released a statement endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

"The darkness and division in America didn't start under this Administration, but this president has certainly exploited our worst instincts," Daniels said in a statement. "The next leader of our country has a daunting task ahead of them, but I believe that Pete is prepared to bring our country together to confront the biggest challenges we face, from dismantling systemic racism to passing gun violence prevention legislation and combating climate change."

The out director added that Buttigieg is the Democratic party's best candidate to defeat "Trumpism" in November.

In response, Buttigieg, who is the first gay candidate in American history to make it this far in the presidential election cycle, praised Daniels for the endorsement.

"Lee Daniels has brought us powerful stories which examine the conscience of the country and reflect the struggles that too many American families face," said Buttigieg. "His ability to communicate the urgency of this moment and the need to bring about a new era is invaluable in this election."

So far, Buttigieg won the Iowa primary and came in second in New Hampshire.

However, this Saturday's South Carolina primary will certainly be a test for the young politician, who was unknown on a national level at the beginning of his campaign but has since garnered support from celebrities like Sharon Stone, George Takei, Kevin Costner, Seth MacFarlane, and Mandy Moore.