Pete Buttigieg Dismantles CNBC Host Over Iran Conflict and Trump's Inflation Failures
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confronted CNBC host Joe Kernen regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran and the economic repercussions of President Donald Trump’s unfulfilled inflation promises.
Trump's 2024 presidential campaign hinged on a pledge to alleviate rising costs for American families. Yet, as Buttigieg pointed out, inflation has surged beyond levels seen when former President Joe Biden exited office.
In recent weeks, U.S. military actions alongside Israel against Iran have escalated, with Trump asserting that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed an imminent threat. A ceasefire was declared earlier this week, but tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain precarious.
The conflict has already impacted American consumers, with oil prices spiking after Iran effectively restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil transport. Current averages show Americans paying over $4 per gallon for regular gasoline and nearly $5.70 for diesel.
Inflation figures reflect this turmoil, with a reported increase of 0.9 percent since February, bringing the annual rate to 3.3 percent, according to the Consumer Price Index. Energy costs are a significant driver, with gas prices soaring by 21.2 percent in March alone.
Buttigieg, who served as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan, shared his perspective on the war during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “When a president sends you to war…you do it with some level of confidence that your chain of command wouldn’t act without necessity,” he stated.
Kernen defended the Trump administration's military strategy, citing Iran's history of violence against its own citizens and its antagonistic actions towards the U.S. “How do you feel about that regime being left intact by this president?” Buttigieg countered.
“I don’t know what might happen,” Kernen replied, pressing Buttigieg further. “So, you don’t want this to work. And it was just a bad move. And you just want us to pull out now.”
Buttigieg responded with urgency: “There’s no obvious way out now. But I want to ensure that this ends in a way that allows our economy to recover, that we’re not paying exorbitant gas prices. Right now, oil’s at $100, jet fuel’s at $200, gas is over four bucks, diesel’s like $5.50 and up.”
Kernen interjected, “You averaged $3.80 under Biden for four years,” seemingly referencing gas prices. However, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that gas prices under Biden averaged around $3.50 per gallon.
Buttigieg pushed back firmly: “And when we left, inflation was lower than it is today.”
The annual inflation rate had risen by 2.9 percent in December 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index.
The discussion intensified as both began speaking over one another. “His central campaign promise was he was going to take inflation and drive it down and instead, he took inflation and it’s up,” Buttigieg remarked about Trump.
