(Fox News) Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg appeared to wear dress boots while surveying the train derailment on the ground in East Palestine, Ohio.
Buttigieg visited Ohio on Thursday nearly three weeks after the East Palestine train derailment spilled toxic chemicals into the environment.
The secretary appeared to be wearing leather dress boots, instead of heavy-duty shoes like work boots, while surveying damage in the city.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrives for a news conference Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, near the site of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
A Department of Transportation spokesperson told FOX News Digital that the shoes were “boots” but had no record of the brand.
“The secretary was wearing boots,” the spokesperson said. “We do not have a record of what brand they are.”
“I would like to point you instead to the three-pronged plan he put out recently to increase rail safety and accountability, which is probably of more interest to the residents of East Palestine and any community with a rail line running through it right now than the Secretary’s choice of footwear, which is an entirely irrelevant topic,” the spokesperson added.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks during a news conference Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, near the site of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Several Republicans online blasted Buttigieg for wearing “dress shoes” when surveying the toxic chemical spill in Ohio.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrives for a news conference Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, near the site of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
“Not shocked at all by Mayor Pete wearing dress shoes to East Palestine,” Ohio Senate GOP spokesperson Tom Evans wrote.
Not shocked at all by Mayor Pete wearing dress shoes to East Palestine. https://t.co/5fnNS6kIvn
— Tom Evans (@tomevans74) February 23, 2023
Is he wearing… dress shoes? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/oylWHIIj1m
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) February 23, 2023
Serious question – does @SecretaryPete think these are work boots? pic.twitter.com/ldp08TiEwW
— Abigail Marone 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) February 23, 2023
During his first trip to East Palestine, Ohio, to survey the site of the catastrophic train derailment, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ignored reporters’ questions while his press secretary attempted to handle the media.
