Presidential hopeful Pete ButtigiegPete ButtigiegScaled-back Pride Month poses challenges for fundraising, outreach Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It’s as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process MORE (D) responded to President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE nicknaming him “Alfred E. Neuman,” saying the insult was generational.
“I’ll be honest. I had to Google that,” Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., told reporters in San Francisco on Friday. “I guess it’s just a generational thing. I didn’t get the reference. It’s kind of funny, I guess, but he’s also the president of the United States, and I’m surprised he’s not spending more time trying to salvage this China deal.”
Ouch! Mayor @Pete Buttigieg responds to @realDonaldTrump slam that he is “Alfred E Neuman” —“I had to Google that..I guess it’s a generational thing.” pic.twitter.com/ZL11noISYL
— Carla Marinucci (@cmarinucci) May 11, 2019
Trade talks between Washington and Beijing ended without an agreement Friday, raising the specter of a prolonged trade war between the two economic titans.
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Trump first introduced the nickname Friday in an exclusive interview with Politico, referencing the gap-toothed, red-haired and big-eared boy who has appeared on the cover of Mad magazine for decades.
“Alfred E. Neuman cannot become president of the United States,” the president said of Buttigieg.
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The only openly gay candidate in the Democratic primary field, Buttigieg has recently enjoyed a spike in support, shooting up near the top of several national and statewide polls and raking in $7 million in the first quarter of 2019, outpacing several other candidates with higher name recognition.
Friday’s put-down was not the first time Trump has gone after Buttigieg.
“We have a young man, Buttigieg. Boot-edge-edge. They say ‘edge-edge,'” Trump said at a Florida rally this week. “He’s got a great chance, doesn’t he?”
“He’ll be great representing us against President Xi of China. That’ll be great. I want to be in that room. I want to watch that one,” he added.
The mayor responded the next day that he wasn’t “too worried” about the insults.
“You can’t get too worried about the name calling and the games he plays,” said Buttigieg. “I was thinking of a Chinese proverb that goes, when the wind changes, some people build walls and some people build windmills.”
Buttigieg, a former Rhodes scholar and Afghanistan War veteran who’s nearing the end of his second term as mayor, has faced skepticism over whether he’s experienced enough to win the White House. He’s responded that he has more executive experience than Trump and more military experience than Trump and Vice President Pence put together.
Trump appears to be continuing his practice of labeling his political enemies with derogatory nicknames, dubbing Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) “Crazy Bernie” and former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE “SleepyCreepy Joe.”
The former New York real estate mogul effectively wielded his rhetorical put-downs to stand out in a crowded Republican primary field in 2016, eventually winning the party’s nomination.