Buttigieg has ‘new appreciation’ for paternity leave as poll finds 48% disapprove of absence

Pete Buttigieg returns to work after finding a ‘new appreciation’ for paternity leave: Biden’s Transportation secretary back to the office after poll finds nearly half of voters disapprove of his absence during supply chain crisis

  • Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg returned to work in an event promoting electric vehicles on Wednesday outside the Transportation Department in DC
  • It follows intense backlash surrounding Buttigieg’s two-month paternity leave after adopting newborn twins with his husband Chasten 
  • A poll released Tuesday shows that 48% of likely voters disapprove of Buttigieg’s parental leave in the midst of a massive supply chain crisis in the U.S. 


Nearly half of voters feel Pete Buttigieg should ‘get back to work’ after taking paternity leave in the midst of a supply chain crisis as the Transportation secretary says he has a ‘new appreciation’ for paid parental leave.

A new Rasmussen Report survey released Tuesday found that only 37 per cent of likely U.S. voters have a favorable view of Buttigieg while 47 per cent view him unfavorably.

The same poll, taken among 1,000 likely voters between October 17-18, found that voters are split on whether Buttigieg should have taken a two-month paternity leave – with 48 per cent of disapproval and 47 approval.

When broken down by party, nearly seven in 10 Democrats approve of Buttigieg’s paternity leave, while 67 per cent of Republicans disapprove. Five per cent are not sure.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 per cent.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg returned to work after intense backlash surrounding his two-month paternity leave after adopting twins with his husband Chasten

A poll released Tuesday shows that 48% of likely voters disapprove of Buttigieg's parental leave in the midst of a massive supply chain crisis in the U.S.

A poll released Tuesday shows that 48% of likely voters disapprove of Buttigieg’s parental leave in the midst of a massive supply chain crisis in the U.S.

Buttigieg spoke Wednesday at an event promoting electric vehicles outside the Transportation Department in Washington D.C.

Buttigieg spoke Wednesday at an event promoting electric vehicles outside the Transportation Department in Washington D.C.

The Transportation secretary looks at electric motorcycles during an event on October 20

The Transportation secretary looks at electric motorcycles during an event on October 20

A masked-up Buttigieg showed up for a rare public appearance in D.C. – a short walk away from the neighborhood where he rents an apartment with husband Chasten

A masked-up Buttigieg showed up for a rare public appearance in D.C. – a short walk away from the neighborhood where he rents an apartment with husband Chasten

In the midst of intense criticism of Buttigieg’s absence from work, it appears the Transportation secretary is back at it in full swing.

Buttigieg gave remarks outside the Transportation Department on Wednesday in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. – a rare sighting of the secretary out and about in the district.

He spoke before electric vehicle advocates and manufacturers as they convened to showcase electric vehicle capabilities and their expanding availability of these vehicles.

Buttigieg and his husband Chasten announced in early September that they had adopted twins, Penelope and Joseph, who were born prematurely.

It appears Buttigieg began taking paternity leave in mid-August, despite an absence from any announcement of his leave of absence. From a retweet last week it appears Buttigieg returned to work in mid-October – meaning he was off for about two months in the midst of an economic crisis including a supply chain bottleneck in the U.S.

The leave was met with intense backlash from conservatives.

Electric vehicle advocates and manufacturers convened at the Department of Transportation in Southeast DC Wednesday to showcase electric vehicle capabilities and their expanding availability to Buttigieg

Electric vehicle advocates and manufacturers convened at the Department of Transportation in Southeast DC Wednesday to showcase electric vehicle capabilities and their expanding availability to Buttigieg

During an appearance on CNN Wednesday morning, Buttigieg says he has a ‘new appreciation’ for President Joe Biden’s policies that gave him time off from his Cabinet post to take care of his newborn children.

‘The pro-family agenda of this administration has to do with making it easier and more affordable to raise children in this country, and I do have a new appreciation for that as a new parent, having been able to take time,’ Buttigieg said.

He added that parental leave is ‘just a different kind of work and joyful work – but intense work of raising kids.’

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended Buttigieg’s leave during her press briefing on Tuesday, claiming that he is back at work already.

Buttigieg announced on Twitter in early September that he and husband Chasten (left) adopted two newborn twins – Penelope and Joseph

Buttigieg announced on Twitter in early September that he and husband Chasten (left) adopted two newborn twins – Penelope and Joseph

‘Given the seriousness of the supply chain crisis and the multiple issues that you outlined, wouldn’t it be wise for the secretary to get back on the bicycle, so to speak, and come back to work?’ conservative Newmax reporter Emerald Robinson asked Psaki.

‘He’s at work,’ Psaki countered.

‘He’s on paternity leave.’

‘I was on a conference call with him this morning,’ Psaki shot back.

‘He’s in the department now, everyday?’ Robinson pushed.

Psaki then defended the administration’s stance that fathers and mothers and other caretakers should receive paid leave from work when welcoming a new child into the family.

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