The Washington DC rumor mill has set off considerable buzz as incoming President Joe Biden eyes an unexpected role for campaign surrogate Pete Buttigieg: ambassador to China.
Political website Axios reports that Buttigieg had lobbied Biden for a role as Ambassador to the United Nations. Biden passed him over in favor of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former ambassador to Liberia. Buttigiegâs name has also been mentioned in connection with Secretary of Transportation or Commerce roles. Biden has apparently added the China ambassadorial position to the mix.
Related: Â Mayor Pete epically owns Trumpâs âcrazy uncleâ debate performance
Naming Buttigieg as ambassador to China would signal a bold vote of confidence in the former South Bend, Indiana mayor. Political insiders have already noted that the job usually goes to a very experienced diplomatâŚor to a politician with strong presidential ambitions. Former President George H. W. Bush served as ambassador to China before ascending to the White House. Furthermore, the China-US relationship is an extremely complex one, and one which has become strained under the Trump administration. Appointing Buttigieg would offer him a chance to build powerful foreign policy credentials, and make him one of the most important diplomats in the world. Buttigieg is also an openly gay man; appointing him as ambassador to China would send a clear message to the nation which has a mixed record on LGBTQ issues: the Biden administration supports queer rights, and China should do the same.
After a surprising Presidential run that saw him win the Iowa primary, Pete Buttigieg became one of the most outspoken and beloved surrogates of the Biden campaign. Biden once said of Buttigieg: âI donât think Iâve ever done this before, but he reminds me of my son Beau. I know that may not mean much to most people, but, to me, itâs the highest compliment I can give any man or woman.â
Andrew
Is Ambassador to China a stepping stone to the presidency? I was hoping for something more prestigious.
Max
agreed!
trsxyz
Me too
Paul Nadolski
I personally would not make a good ambassador to China. Between their ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet and Turkestan, their attempts to “manage” Tibetan Buddhism, and their horrible system of government, I would find it hard to be diplomatic with any leader of China.
Oh, and did I mention that I believe they owe me (and everyone else in the world) at least $50,000 apiece in reparations for COVID-19?
nunya
Donât expect the Biden administration to hold Chinaâs feet to the fire for the Covid debacle it unleashed on the world.
Cam
@nunya
Oh yes, China’s HUGE conspiracy to unleash Covid on the world by first unleashing it in their own country.
I get that you Republican trolls are desperate to deflect from the fact that Trump is responsible for nearly 300,000 dead Americans, but Considering this has harmed China’s economy and killed a bunch of their own, you may want to try inventing a better conspiracy.
BGreen1963
You really should sue Trump and Alex Azar, they are the ones that made Trump-19 spread like wildfire. Trump is a mass murderer. He’s killed 200,000 more Americans than Al-Qaeda & ISIS put together and he’s owned by Putin, so I’d sue him too. Oh, and Pence and Moscow Mitch McCONnel.
Kangol2
Are we ever going to talk about how, according to right-wing Republican and former Don the Con staffer John Bolton, Donald Dump groveled before Xi and begged him for help to get reelected? Apparently Xi said NO. Let’s not forget the Orange Oaf’s secret Chinese bank account and how he paid more in taxes to China than he did to the US.
Or how about how Donny Drumpf said one thing publicly about democracy in Hong Kong but privately was kissing Xi’s @ss to get help and hasn’t done a thing to help the people over there? Or how about how Don Dumpsterfire’s trade war has turned into a debacle, with the US having the largest trade deficit with China in decades?
Gadfeal
Pete is one of the most Renaissance men around: super bright and educated, courageous enough for active duty. I’m sure he can handle almost any posting.
The China posting is one of the most important as it is with the likely leading economy in this generation from a regime that has been more economically astute than most “capitalistic” societies. When China sneezes, every country should shudder as the world is so intertwined today.
I would have preferred an ambassador who is very familiar with the government, the culture and, ideally, the language of China. We had this with former Governor of Utah, and former Ambassador to China, John Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman made the “mistake” (only in America) of displaying his fluency in another language, Mandarin. Not even Ted Cruz, son of Hispanic immigrant, would consent to replying to Univision in Spanish – for fear that it would be seen as “un-American”.
The post to China is perhaps more important than to Canada, the UK, France or Germany, all wonderful allies but whose economies don’t hold much weight individually.
Furthermore, since WWII, Asia has been kept largely nuclear-free with the “promise” of the US to provide such an “umbrella”. The current American government seems unwilling to uphold that “deal” and withdraw troops and infrastructure, a change that will not only alter the current dynamics but lead to an arms race by Japan or other countries that clearly have the capacity to develop advanced weapons – but have refrained.
For this once, don’t put a crony or “reward” political friends by ambassadorships. Require, as most foreign governments do in Washington embassies, that ambassadors be familiar with the culture, language and attitudes of the host nation.
barryaksarben
I agree and he is smart enough to know all this and run with it. He is a wonderful and exciting pol and I look forward to his continued success
GentlemanCaller
Well, Pete wanted to read a book by a Norewegian author, so he learned Norwegian. He currently speaks English, Norwegian, Spanish, French, Italian, Maltese, Arabic, and Dari. I suspect that, given a month, he’d become fluent in Mandarin. He’s extremely bright, and I have no doubt he’d represent the US well, and have a very short learning curve on Chinese culture. That said, the rumors are specifically “a high level ambassadorship” (China is being assumed by pundits); Court of St James’ would be good, although the UK is rapidly making itself irrelevant, just like us. Russia would be amusing, given Putin’s anti-gay policies.
Cam
Huge step up from Mayor, and a good launching point for a House or Senate Seat or another run for the White House.
My guess is he does well and then gets appointed to the UN spot during Biden’s second term.
UlfRaynor
Gotta disagree with ya on this one Cam, kind of hard to campaign or even maintain any kind of public persona from the otherside of the world.
It’s a token position for a token homosexual, Biden/Harris are going to have to do far better than this for the LGBT community considering our overwhelming support of their campaign.
Cam
@UlfRaynor
Except others have used it as a launching point, and Pete is good with languages and he would be ambassador to arguably the most important country in our foreign relegations for the upcoming decade. This isn’t a B.S. posting like Luxumborg. This is major.
SoggyDuck
If I have a guess, Pete will be fluent in Mandarin before he assumes the post! Biden is right, he’s one of the brightest and the best and would serve as a great example of an LGBQT individual in a highly restricted society. But, whatever or wherever Pete is assigned he’ll do America proud.
BGreen1963
I concur, you hit the nail on the head.
Gourmet Guy
Absolutely, Soggy. I’ve been following and adoring Pete Buttigieg for a long time. I read his books, along with Chasten Buttigieg’s book. Pete’s the brightest star on the “political” scene.
The real Bruce
China is a big country with more than one language. I think he would be a quick study of the other dialects and he would eagerly study the land as diverse as America and do very well. And I don’t think he would “disappear” as others think he might. Go for it Pete!
Alex_S
So instead of giving him a position in Washington DC they decided to send him into exile? OK then.
UlfRaynor
Agreed, it’s a token position and would effectively take Pete out of the public spotlight, just like Trumps appointment of Richard Grennell to Germany, that is until Trump needed his help campaigning back in the states.
I hope Pete is smart enough to see it for what it is and refuses the position and instead focuses on a future run for either the Senate or House.
barryaksarben
to clear something up Grennell was only called home because Germany refused to work with him and asked that he be sent home as he was meeting with nazis which is a huge no no in Germany. He was not brought home because of his great election work. he came home in disgrace – at least any other administration would have admitted it. He is a pos and his record should be looked at honestly
Cam
Exile….to the most important ambassadorship we have.
Scout
Big mistake, and I hope Pete turns it down. With China’s particular Anti-Gay policies and their disregard for human rights, spies will be in his every shadow, and it would not be beyond the Chinese government to frame him for some “crime” because he and his husband are gay. He belongs in a cabinet position here, not relegated to a foreign post, and China of all places!
Heywood Jablowme
Ambassadors have diplomatic immunity.
Joseph1971
It would be a huge feather in his cap to be named Ambassador to China and it will keep him in the public eye. With trade and the escalation of China in the South China Sea his abilities will be tested. If he is successful in improving relations between the two nations it can only add to his chances of being named to the Democratic ticket in 2024 or 2028
The real Bruce
Agree! And with Naval experience, he would be looking into current violations China has been making with its neighbors. Quite an opportunity for him to make a difference there.
MrMichaelJ
Wow, I’m sorry but this couldn’t be more obnoxious. The people Biden putting into important positions, but more importantly the types he is NOT putting in there, is turning off the slice of the liberal base the DNC needs in order to win. It’s the biggest pile of bullshite.
Essie
I’m not really that into politics but I really don’t see how being ambassador to CHINA (of all places) is a good thing for Buttigieg. No one will hear from him for four long years. If he wants to further his political career, he should turn this down. And Biden can’t be all that interested in him if, out of all the positions that need to be filled, that is all he has to offer to Pete.
footwork61
Our relationship with China is one of the most multidimensional and fraught that we have with any country. It requires someone with Pete’s brilliant mind, analytical skills, and the ability to put an issue through a prism to see its constituent parts. Whether he has the diplomatic judgment is something we don’t know. He obviously is better at resisting temptation into emotional responses than Mike Pomp[ous]eo.
Liquid Silver
True, but most people don’t think multi-dimensionally the way you do.
amanwithanedge
think of it this way. Do you know the name of the present Ambassador to China? No, I don’t.
MacAdvisor
I could be wrong, but I think the post is vacant.
Mack
Well Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah was President Obama’s ambassador to China. I think it would be great shoving a gay man in the face of China. And I’m sure his husband would be an asset too.
Liquid Silver
He is very smart and he’d be good at it. It’d be a nice stepping stone in terms of experience for a person who has very little, and who frankly didn’t even rank in “show” during the Primaries. It’s a start in terms of Federal governing, and really better than he’s “entitled” to. And from the postings, many people here certainly do know from entitlement. đ
Topazme
Really is this it??….i think its a letdown but maybe Biden team thinks he is too inexperienced to be in the white house but i was genuinly hoping for ambassador to UN because he is an amazing speaker and he’s very charming…this seems like a bad deal…
succubus
eek!!! all that rice and no sausage
wikidBSTN
Ambassador to China is a BIG deal. And it will give Mayor Pete what his resume is really lacking – foreign policy experience. This would be a solid for his career and I think he would be excellent at it.
HenryCameron
And somewhere Antonio Gramsci smiles.