President Trump offered praise Friday for Democratic presidential candidate and openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg for campaigning with his husband, Chasten.
“I think it’s absolutely fine. I do. I think it’s great. I think that’s something that perhaps some people will have a problem with. I have no problem with it whatsoever. I think it’s good,” Mr. Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Steve Hilton airing Sunday.
The president agreed with Mr. Hilton that Mr. Buttigieg’s campaign proves progress has been made in normalizing same-sex marriage.
Mr. Buttigieg, the first openly gay, high-profile presidential candidate, will appear Sunday evening on Fox News for a town hall, following recent town halls on the network by Sens. Bernard Sanders of Vermont and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
The South Bend, Indiana, mayor has consistently polled in third to fifth place to likely face Mr. Trump in the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump said during an April interview with Fox News’ “Hannity” that he is “rooting” for Mr. Buttigieg, but added, “he’s not going to make it.”
Last Friday, the president compared the mayor to Mad magazine’s mascot, telling Politico “Alfred E. Neuman cannot become president of the United States.”
When asked about the reference, the 37-year-old Mr. Buttigieg said, “I’ll be honest. I had to Google that.”
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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