Overview

• Pete Buttigieg returned to Iowa for the first time since leaving the Biden administration, headlining a VoteVets town hall in Cedar Rapids.
• While not formally declaring a 2028 presidential bid, Buttigieg stated he is 'assessing' the possibility and is 'a long way off' from a decision.
• He criticized President Trump’s administration, warning of authoritarian tendencies and urging Democrats to present a clear alternative vision.
• Buttigieg suggested that President Biden’s decision to seek reelection in 2024 'maybe' hurt Democrats, though he emphasized the need to focus on future challenges.
• He called for Democrats to engage voters 'where they are,' including conservative spaces, pointing to his own appearances on Fox News and other platforms.