Democratic presidential candidate Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE in a Sunday interview expressed discomfort with Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE’s characterization of Rep. Tulsi GabbardTulsi GabbardGabbard drops defamation lawsuit against Clinton It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process 125 lawmakers urge Trump administration to support National Guard troops amid pandemic MORE (D-Hawaii) as a Russian asset.
Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., told Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddChris Wallace to Colbert: US hasn’t seen this level of unrest since 1968 Demings: ‘We are long overdue for every law enforcement agency in our nation to review itself’ DC mayor: ‘I think that the president has a responsibility to help calm the nation’ MORE on “Meet the Press” that he did not want to “get in the middle of” the battle over Clinton’s comments.
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But when Todd asked if he was comfortable with Clinton’s critique of Gabbard, Buttigieg said, “No, I’m not.”
“I’m also not going to get in the middle of it because we, as a party and as a country, have to focus on the future,” he said.
WATCH: #IfItsSunday Mayor @petebuttigieg says he’s not comfortable with Hillary Clinton’s claim that Russians are grooming his fellow 2020 candidate Tulsi Gabbard for a third-party run.
“I’m also not going to get in the middle of it.” #MTP pic.twitter.com/oCCFFaKa9u
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 20, 2019
Buttigieg said the Democratic Party needs to focus “on the task at hand right now,” which includes defeating President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE.
“That is my focus,” he said. “That and what happens after this presidency comes to an end.”
Clinton, asked Friday about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and future elections, said she believed Russians have their “eye on somebody who’s currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate.”
Clinton didn’t mention Gabbard specifically, but it was clear from her remarks who she was referencing.
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“She’s the favorite of the Russians,” Clinton said of the candidate. “They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far.”
The former secretary of State’s comments sparked backlash and prompted Gabbard to accuse Clinton of backing “a campaign to destroy my reputation.”
The Hawaii representative denied that she would run as a third-party candidate. Clinton has also accused 2016 Green Party candidate Jill Stein of being used by the Russians to get President Trump elected.
Buttigieg on the topic of electoral interference said that Russia is “exploiting divisions” in the U.S.
“But the bigger issue here is Russia is working to interfere with our elections right now,” he said. “And we know a big part of how they’re going to do it is exploiting divisions among the American people with their information operations.”