Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson raised questions about former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s sexuality on The Tucker Carlson Show. When speaking with guest Michael Knowles, a Daily Wire host who also espouses anti-LBGTQ+ rhetoric, Carlson responded, “The fake gay guy?” when Knowles brought up Buttigieg’s name.
LGBTQ Nation reported Knowles’ response, “I have a friend who thinks he’s a fake gay.” Carlson replied, “My gay producer was always like, ‘He’s not gay.’ He was with a girl, like, 20 minutes ago, and, like, he wants to be the Democratic nominee, it’s like, ‘Time for a gay guy!’” Knowles then claimed that Buttigieg is “playing the long game,” and Carlson said, “Well, it’s suffering for your art, I’ll say that.”
Gay City News reports Knowles portrayed a character who sleeps with another man on a video posted on YouTube, and The Daily Dot reported in 2023 that he dressed in drag in 2016 despite Knowles’ record of criticizing drag shows.
The outlet reports that Buttigieg began dating his now-husband, author and educator Chasten Buttigieg, in 2015 after the two connected on a dating app. Today, the couple is raising two young children together, often sharing glimpses of their personal life on social media.
Carlson has targeted Buttigieg before, according to Them., He criticized the politician in 2022 for taking paid parental leave surrounding the birth and adoption of his children. In addition, on a 2022 episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, he said Buttigieg “hid” his sexuality for years, “and then lied about it for reasons he’s never been asked to explain.”
PinkNews notes Carlson has also gone after former Vice President Kamala Harris’ former running mate, Tim Walz, claiming that he looks “super, super gay.” The publication states there is no evidence that Walz is gay. He has been married to Gwen Whipple since 1994 and has two children with her.
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