n a scathing exchange during a press conference on May 8, President Donald Trump delivered a direct blow to former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over the ongoing air traffic control issues plaguing the U.S. airline industry—an issue that recently led to a massive outage at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The president was responding to a reporter’s question about the long-delayed update to the air traffic control software system when he quickly turned the conversation into a roast of Buttigieg and the Biden administration’s handling of the issue. Trump, known for his blunt and unfiltered style, didn’t hold back, pointing out Buttigieg’s lack of experience and, in typical Trump fashion, poking fun at the former mayor’s peculiar habits.

“I was all set, before we had the rigged election, to give out a brand new, gorgeous system to one company that was going to do the whole thing,” Trump said, before elaborating that the plan was scuttled by the events of the 2020 election. Trump hinted that some of the best tech companies were ready to roll out the much-needed improvements, but the opportunity was lost under the Biden administration.

Trump then turned his attention to Buttigieg, mocking the Transportation Secretary’s lack of qualifications for the job. “Buttigieg—who has no clue—drives to work on his bicycle with his husband on the back. A nice loving relationship,” Trump quipped. The comment, which referenced Buttigieg’s notorious habit of biking to work, struck a chord with his critics, who see it as an emblem of his out-of-touch elitism.

But Trump didn’t stop there. He continued his mockery by suggesting that Buttigieg, who has frequently been touted as a future presidential contender, was “a contender for president, between him and \[Rep. Jasmine] Crockett. You can have that party.” Trump’s comments underscored the growing frustrations within the GOP over the Democrat party’s leadership choices, highlighting how individuals like Buttigieg, despite their lack of experience, are elevated to key positions of power.

The backlash against Buttigieg for his role in the transportation debacles didn’t just come from Trump. Former Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also slammed Buttigieg’s handling of the crisis. Duffy, who served in the Trump administration, posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Pete Buttigieg’s PR tour is a joke! Within 2 years of him signing a 15-year contract, that has not been used to lay any fiber, we are having massive outages in the busiest airspace.” He further criticized Buttigieg’s tenure, pointing out that the air traffic controller shortage was exacerbated during his time in office. “More concerned with equity & social justice than innovation & safety,” Duffy continued.

Trump, always quick to capitalize on his opponents’ failures, echoed Duffy’s sentiment in a post on Truth Social, calling Buttigieg “a total novice and political hack,” while pledging to fix the system. “Air Traffic problems caused by the incompetent Biden Administration, as headed by, in this case, Pete B. I WILL FIX IT!!!” Trump wrote, signaling that he remains the only one capable of addressing the country’s infrastructure challenges.

With the Biden administration continuing to flounder on basic issues like air traffic control, Trump’s bold, unfiltered criticism serves as a reminder of the stark contrast in leadership between the two men. Where Buttigieg remains focused on political correctness and social justice, Trump promises a return to practical, no-nonsense leadership—exactly what the country needs.