Pete Buttigieg in CBS "Face the Nation" interviews during 2019
On Foreign Policy:
US foreign policy should be based on American values
Our own view needs to be based on the idea that American interests, American values, and American relationships all need to fit together. Under this administration, the U.S. does not have a foreign policy. Maybe an approach, but the approach is not
pretty. It involves coddling dictators. It involves blaming fellow Americans for a lot of the problems we have around the world. It's no substitute for a policy in which the U.S. is leading.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview
Jun 16, 2019
On Foreign Policy:
We can lead the world or resent it; we can't do both
It's very clear that the U.S. is adrift. Under this administration, the U.S. does not have a foreign policy. Maybe an approach, but the approach is not pretty. It involves coddling dictators. It involves blaming fellow Americans for a lot of
the problems we have. It's no substitute for a policy in which the U.S. is leading. We can either lead the rest of the world or we can resent the rest of the world. We can't do both.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview series
Jun 16, 2019
On Government Reform:
Prosecution for obstruction shouldn't be president's call
Q: You said that if you are elected, that you would consider pursuing obstruction of justice charges.Buttigieg: It's not up to the President to pursue charges.
I think that there may have been illegal behavior [by Trump] and prosecutors should look at that. The last place you look for guidance on how to conduct a prosecution is the Oval Office.
The less law enforcement has to do with politics the better. There should be a Department of Justice that can think for itself.
There is tons of evidence that would point to an obstruction investigation. I'm just saying it shouldn't be ordered up by the President.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview
Jun 16, 2019
On Homeland Security:
Must not allow foreign powers to interfere in elections
We were attacked by a hostile foreign power that decided that they could damage America, destabilize America, by intervening in the election to help [Trump] win. And they did and he did, and now America's destabilized. If you believe in putting this
country first, how could you ever talk about allowing a foreign power to interfere in the most sacred thing that we have in our civic tradition in America, which is our elections?
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview
Jun 16, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Not up to the president to decide who should be prosecuted
It's not up to the President to pursue charges [based on the Mueller Report]. I believe that the last place you look for guidance on how to conduct a prosecution is to the Oval Office. There should be a Department of Justice that can think for itself.
There is tons of evidence that would point to an obstruction investigation. I'm just saying it shouldn't be ordered up by the President.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview on Mueller Report
Jun 16, 2019
On War & Peace:
Restore Iran deal; work with allies in Europe and the region
If we want to see stability in the Middle East we should be engaging with our partners there as well as allies like our European partners who are such an important part of the Iran nuclear deal. Another thing I would never have done is to get us out of
the nuclear deal setting off a chain reaction that has destabilized the regional security framework and the politics of that area, and making it that much harder for any moderates that are still in the Iranian regime to get anywhere.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview
Jun 16, 2019
On War & Peace:
Never should have left Iran deal, will do something new
Q: What would you do about Iran?BUTTIGIEG: First of all, engage our allies. We are not alone. At least we shouldn't be acting alone. Another thing I would never have done is to get us out of the nuclear deal setting off a chain reaction that has
destabilized the regional security framework and the politics of that area. We need to have a completely different approach. We're going to have to do something new. The point is that we never should have left it in the first place.
Source: CBS Face the Nation 2019 interview series
Jun 16, 2019
Page last updated: Feb 29, 2020