Transportation Sec. Buttigieg defends paid family leave after Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked him for taking paternity leave to care for his twin newborns.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg defended paid family leave on Sunday, after Fox News host Tucker Carlson mocked the secretary for taking paternity leave to care for his twin newborns.
"When somebody welcomes a new child into their family, and goes on leave to take care of that child that's not a vacation, it's work, it's joyful, wonderful, fulfilling work, but it is work," said Buttigieg on"Meet the Press."the secretary had been on paid leave since mid-August to spend time with his husband, Chasten, and their twin babies, Penelope and Joseph.
On Thursday, Carlson said: “Pete Buttigieg has been on leave from his job since August after adopting a child. Paternity leave, they call it, trying to figure out how to breastfeed. No word on how that went." Not long after, many came to Buttigieg's defense including White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who tweeted she's"proud to work in an Administration that is fighting to make paid leave a reality for everyone, and with people likeWhen pressed if paid family leave will remain in President Joe Biden's $3.5 billion 'Build Back Better' agenda, Buttigieg said, it remains"in the President's vision, we'll see what the legislative process is going to bring.