Key takeaways:
- Mike Pence defended a joke he made about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the Gridiron Dinner
- The White House called the joke “homophobic,” but Pence shrugged off the criticism
- Pence’s remarks have been met with mixed reactions, with some applauding his sense of humor and others criticizing him
Former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday defended a joke he made about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the white-tie Gridiron Dinner last weekend.
At the event, Pence joked that Buttigieg took parental leave in 2021 after the transportation secretary and husband Chasten adopted newborn twins. He also joked about postpartum depression.
When asked about his remarks, Pence told reporters at a Cheshire County GOP event in New Hampshire that he had “a lot of jokes directed to me, and I directed a lot of jokes to Republicans and Democrats.”
“The only thing I can figure is Pete Buttigieg not only can’t do his job, but he can’t take a joke,” Pence added.
The White House had previously called the joke “homophobic,” but Pence shrugged off the criticism. He noted that the Gridiron Dinner is a roast and that he was simply responding in kind.
Pence’s remarks have been met with mixed reactions, with some applauding his sense of humor and others criticizing him for what they see as an insensitive joke.
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