Secretary Pete Buttigieg and President Alison Byerly discuss the past, present, and future of American politics
As part of the Engaging Across Viewpoints lecture series, Buttigieg drew on his professional experience in the American political sphere to answer questions posed by President Byerly and community members.
On Tuesday, April 28, in a sold-out event at Skinner Memorial Chapel, former Secretary of Transportation and 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg spoke on topics ranging from Operation Metro Surge to artificial intelligence. After waiting in long security lines, approximately 900 students, faculty, and staff filled the pews, with more than 1,000 alumni tuning in via livestream. By the time Buttigieg stepped up to the stage, the energy was palpable.
Buttigieg is no stranger to such charged environments; he is well known for participating in dynamic debates with conservative pundits on Fox News. Byerly inquired about these experiences, specifically asking him how he fosters bipartisan dialogue, and he emphasized the importance of communication.
“A very important part of politics is persuasion,” he said. “I can’t blame someone for not agreeing with a point of mine if they haven’t heard it.”
Throughout the discussion, Buttigieg underscored the value of engaging with people who hold different beliefs and life experiences. He contended that it is unproductive to share ideas with only like-minded groups. Addressing the role of higher education in these conversations, he expressed concern about limited ideological diversity on college campuses, noting that today’s students will play an important role in future civic discourse.
“We look to higher education to not only produce workers, but citizens,” he said.
Turning to current events, Buttigieg addressed Operation Metro Surge. He criticized reported “abuses” and commended those who participated in cold-weather protests, and engaged in mutual aid and other forms of collective action.
“[These abuses] shouldn’t only be offensive to the left, they should be disturbing to every freedom-loving American,” he said.
On immigration, Buttigieg argued that the topic should remain an ongoing, national conversation. While he did affirm the need for border control and policy, he emphasized the importance in balancing how these policies are implemented.
Byerly also asked Buttigieg to discuss how the war in Iran has impacted his beliefs on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the role of the U.S. in the Middle East. In response, Buttigieg stressed the need for safety on both sides.
“Palestinians must be safe, Israelis must be safe — both have to be true,” he said. “But nothing about the security relationship with Israel justifies those atrocities.”
Inevitably, he was asked about his plans for the next presidential election. While he did not offer a clear answer, he did speak on the current and ever-changing political landscape and the demands facing future leaders.
“[One of my greatest fears would be that Democrats] win, but fail to recognize how much has changed,” he said. “We can’t go back to normalcy.”
Using the metaphor of a house under renovation, Buttigieg forecast the next presidency as one faced with a period of both upheaval and opportunity. Despite the uncertainty and multitude of stressors, Buttigieg remains hopeful for the future.
“I think we can do this. I wouldn’t be doing what I do if I didn’t think it was possible to build a future better than the one we’ve got,” he said.
Closing the event, Buttigieg reflected on a question that motivates him personally — one he imagines his children might one day ask: “What were you doing in the 2020s?”
“I have to think, given what an incredible and imperfect country we are, that we could one day be proud of the 2020s,” he said. “I would love to be part of those who made that happen.”