Pete Buttigieg to Make First Post-Election Public Appearance, Sparks 2028 White House Speculation

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is visiting Iowa on Tuesday, reigniting speculation about a potential presidential run in 2028.

It’s the first public event for Buttigieg, who held a Cabinet position under President Joe Biden as head of the Department of Transportation, after leaving office. He’ll be the featured speaker at a town hall hosted by the progressive veterans’ organization VoteVets Action Fund in Cedar Rapids.

His appearance comes on the heels of an interview earlier in the day in which he did not dismiss the idea of a presidential bid.

Speaking with journalist Anand Giridharadas during a Substack Live interview, Buttigieg reflected on his broader approach to running for public office and touched specifically on the possibility of entering the 2028 presidential race.

Before making a decision, Buttigieg said he would need to “assess the office and what it calls for” and also “assess what I bring to the table.” He noted this method has guided his decisions to run, or not run, for office in the past.

“… There are times I follow that process and decided to run. And there are times I followed that process and decided not to run. And the process can lead you to surprising places,” he said.

Despite the growing attention, Buttigieg emphasized that a decision is still far off.

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, gained national attention during his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. During Biden’s 2024 campaign, and subsequently, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign after Biden exited the race, Buttigieg played a high-profile surrogate role and was briefly considered as a possible vice-presidential pick before Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.