Slayer Pete Returns: Buttigieg Claps Back on Tucker Carlson Comments

After Tucker Carlson made what some are calling homophobic comments in regard to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg taking paternal leave after the birth of twins, the politician has responded.

On Thursday night, the Fox News host mocked Buttigieg for taking two months in order to be at home with his husband, Chasten, and their two newborns, Penelope Rose and Joseph August. While Buttigieg has actually been on call for emergencies during his leave given that there are supply chain issues exacerbated by the ongoing global pandemic, Carlson mused whether he's trying to "figure out how to breastfeed."

"No word on how that went," he said.

Buttigieg, who has developed a reputation leading up to and since becoming the first out Senate-confirmed U.S. Cabinet member of deftly schooling Fox News hosts, has since responded.

"Well, look, in his case, I guess he just doesn't understand the concept of bottle feeding, let alone the concept of paternity leave," Buttigieg said in an appearance on Friday's Deadline: White House. "But what is really strange is that, you know, this is from a side of the aisle that used to claim the mantle of being pro-family." It is important to note that Fox News also offers paternal leave and employees have used it over the last year.

"Well, look, this attack is coming from a guy who has yet to explain his apparent approval for the assassination of Harvey Milk," he continued. There was previously controversy when a high school yearbook of Carlson's indicated he was a part of the "Dan White Society" -- White is the man who assassinated Milk. "So obviously, we know that there's some dark places where some of these attitudes come from."

"But I also note that that doesn't speak for the country," Buttigieg finished. "I don't think that even speaks for most people on the other side of the aisle from the party that I belong to."

Carlson's remarks were also the subject of The View's table discussion today. The women unanimously slammed the comments, praising Buttigieg for taking the time.

"I'd like to just say that Pete Buttigieg served six years in the Navy Reserves and was deployed in Afghanistan," Joy Behar said to close out the conversation, referring to the questioning of the secretary's masculinity. "Tucker Carlson was booted off Dancing With the Stars after he couldn't even do the cha-cha."