Pete Buttigieg’s Press Secretary Only Wants To Do Her Job If Cameras Are Off

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg made a trip to East Palestine, Ohio, on Thursday — but his press secretary appeared unwilling to make any comments about her boss’ activities as long as cameras were rolling.

Buttigieg’s trip — which comes nearly three weeks to the day from the February 3 derailment that resulted in Toxic materials are burned and seeping into the ground — was the subject of bipartisan criticism in recent days, as many asked why it was taking so long for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor to take action.

Kerry Arndt, the Press Secretary, joined the Transportation Secretary in East Palestine. Despite telling reporters that she could help them, Buttigieg ignored their questions, she made it clear she didn’t want to speak to them if she was going to film them.

Savanah Hernandez, Turning Point USA reporter approached Buttigieg with a few questions. Buttigieg ignored her, so Arndt interjected.

WATCH:

Sec. Buttigieg, why did it take him nearly 3 weeks to visit East Palestine and speak with residents?

His press secretary told me then that I was being aggressive by trying to ask questions in camera: a>=”https://t.co/bOB52DIq0O”>pic.twitter.com/bOB52DIq0O

— Savanah Hernandez (@sav_says_) February 23, 2023

“Mayor Pete, why did it take you an entire two-and-a-half weeks to actually get here to respond to East Palestine? Will you apologize to the residents of this city for the slow response?” Hernandez asked, but Buttigieg walked away.

“I’m his press person, I can help you,” Hernandez attempted to ask Arndt several questions.

“I don’t want to be on camera please,” Hernandez asked Arndt, as Hernandez addressed Hernandez, why Buttigieg took so long to get to the derailment site.

“I’m sorry, I don’t wanna do this on camera,” Arndt stated again.

Another journalist inquired about the aforementioned. Recent confrontation between Buttigieg and The Daily Caller News Foundation’s Jennie Taer — during which the Transportation Secretary claimed to be taking “personal time” He then asked him if he could photograph reporter.

“I’m happy to talk to you guys off camera,” Arndt said it again. “I’m happy to have a conversation with you. I do not wanna be on camera.”

“Well if you’re the press secretary of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, don’t you think you should be able ask [sic] questions of the American public that you serve?” Hernandez pressed.

Arndt was uncompromising: “Absolutely, I would like to do it without the camera on.”

Arndt complained then that reporters were being “aggressive” When they insisted that the cameras be kept rolling.

Alexa Schwerha from DCNF followed up with a question about Taer’s exchange. She wanted to know what Secretary Buttigieg would do with the picture he took of her colleague. Arndt continued to stutter, saying she wouldn’t answer questions until the cameras were off.

@SecretaryPete I took a picture of a>=”https://twitter.com/JennieSTaer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@JennieSTaer She was trying ask a question. Now, his team refuses the questiona href=”https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/KCvK37r2uJ

— Alexa Schwerha (@alexaschwerha1) February 23, 2023