Buttigieg defends Biden's mental acuity in 2024 as he weighs his own presidential bid

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday night defended former President Joe Biden's mental acuity during his tenure in the Oval Office, even as the former secretary considers his own presidential future.

Biden's mental fitness caused a lot of alarm in the Democratic Party last year after a disastrous presidential debate against President Donald Trump. Many even blamed him for causing Democrats to lose the 2024 election, because he did not drop from the race fast enough. 

Buttigieg did not appear to hold Biden solely responsible for the party's failure, telling an Iowa audience only "maybe" Democrats would have done better if he dropped out sooner, Politico reported.

“Right now with the benefit of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that’s the case,” Buttigieg said. “We’re also not in a position to wallow in hindsight. We’ve got to get ready for some fundamental tests of the future of this country and this party, some of which are going on this very year, and many which will come next year.”

The former Biden administration official also defended his former boss' mental acuity based on his own interactions.

“Every time I needed something from him, from the West Wing, I got it,” Buttigieg said. “The time I worked closest with him in his last year was around the Baltimore bridge collapse. And what I can tell you is that, you know, the same president that the world saw addressing that was the president I was in the Oval with, insisting that we do a good job and do right by Baltimore. That’s characteristic of my experience with him.”

The comments come as Buttigieg is reportedly considering another presidential bid in 2028. But the former secretary told Substack earlier Tuesday that “any kind of decision process" for the presidency "is a long way off."

Buttigieg ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, but later dropped out to endorse Biden. However, before dropping out he finished first in the Iowa Caucus.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.