Pete Buttigieg reportedly turned down an offer from Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio to help him with his public speaking.
The claim comes from Liz Smith, the political strategist and former senior communications director for Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign.
She told TMZ the actor was one of many celebrities who supported Buttigieg, now the Transportation Secretary, in his bid to win the Democratic nomination in the run-up to the 2020 Presidential election.
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She says that DiCaprio attended a private fundraising event for Buttigieg in October 2019. Also in attendance were Paris Hilton, Ashton Kutcher, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom.
DiCaprio made an offer to give Buttigieg some coaching tips on public speaking ahead of a forthcoming, live TV debate.
Smith says that some of the celebs, such as Hilton, posed for selfies with Buttigieg. DiCaprio didn’t pose for a photo but made the offer of some coaching.
Buttigieg, Smith says, made polite conversation with everyone present, but was not overly familiar with exactly who everyone was due to not having an in-depth knowledge of pop culture. She says she was ecstatic when Buttigieg told her of DiCaprio’s offer, but when she pressed him as to whether he’d got DiCaprio’s number to follow it up, he said he had not.
She believes Buttigieg failed to grasp the magnitude of what DiCaprio was offering, which left her dismayed.
Smith says that Buttigieg, fortunately, handled the TV debate well anyway, and was seen, for a while, as a contender for the Presidential ticket. As we all know, Joe Biden was the candidate who eventually went forward and won the Presidency.
Smith has written a book, ‘Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story’, but told TMZ it doesn’t include this particular tale from the Buttigieg campaign.
Related: Lauren Boebert has no shame and this letter to Pete Buttigieg proves it
abfab
Pete needs no coaching. He IS the coach! I love him, especially when he speaks Norwegian. A very smart, talented and inspiring man.
Harley
He IS the coach, but he is no Gym Jordan (snap).
Mario
Mayor Buttplug’s chances of becoming president is nil.
Harvard/Harris poll:
“if the election were held today for whom would you vote?”
Ron DeSantis: 58%
Pete Buttplug: 32%
still_onthemark
If the Harvard/Harris poll really asked voters about Pete “Buttplug” that probably screwed up the results since there’s no such person. Now, if they asked about Ron DeSatan…
cc423
Does your mom know your on her computer?
Doug
Why do people continue to respond to this troll? Just ignore him… he’s so desperate for attention, lol…
DBMC
Oh Mario, still upset people don’t like you? Still there projecting your inadequacy on everyone else?
Honey, have a cup of coco, get your favorite binky and have a nap.
When you wake up think about your life and if you’re really proud of what you’ve become.
ZzBomb
Pete does a pretty good job already owning and pawning the bobble heads over on Faux news.
Mario
Harvard/Harris poll:
“if the election were held today for whom would you vote?”
Ron DeSantis: 58%
Pete Buttplug: 32%
Jim
Sorry Leo Pete does just find and doesn’t need your help.
Mister P
Desantis is like the resident troll with various screen names on this site. He has nothing to offer but bullying and negativity.
Mario
President Ron DeSantis, January 20, 2025.
MystiRivers
Just came here to say that Bette M still doesn’t gaf what you think.
bachy
Fascinating. I wonder what kinds of tips Leo DiCaprio would give someone WRT public speaking….?
Herman75
Leo could at least have helped make that doc film as compelling as Pete was.
Diplomat
Pete is one of the finest clearest speakers in the world. I think that old saying applies here…Don’t tamper with perfection.
DBMC
While DiCaprio is a very good movie actor, I’ve never known him to be a great public speaker.
still_onthemark
Leo must have mixed himself up with his character in “Catch Me If You Can”
BrutusMagnum
Just the tip.
Terrycloth
Leo hasn’t been paying attention.for awhile there Pete was everywhere..needs no help with his speaking skills..very articulate holds his own very well..don’t quit acting Leo leave Pete alone
Rikki Roze
Agree 100% !
Patrick
Poor Mario. He has such a boring, empty, sexless life because he is such a vapid, repulsive person he has to spend his time on QueerTY spinning lies, citing irrelevant polls & spouting his right wing extremist fantasies. And, he can’t even spell Sec. Buttigieg’s name & gets it confused with the slimy device that he is sitting on as he types.
CityguyUSA
Biden was elected he was seated. Bernie had him beat hands down. Hard to know who manipulated the primary but it was manipulated.
Kangol2
I’m a Bernie Sanders supporter but Biden smoked him. Biden also won the most votes ever in a presidential contest in 2020. He defeated Don the Con by over 7 million votes, don’t forget, for well over 81 million votes. Whatever you may think of him, he didn’t need to manipulate the 2020 primaries.
Kangol2
Buttigieg is a great speaker, but as the January 6 hearings show, sometimes you can learn from pros, as the committee has clearly demonstrated after working with a skilled producer. I’m not sure what DiCaprio planned to show Pete Buttigieg, but I’d be curious to know what his critique was and what he planned to coach Buttigieg on.