Rightwingers say the bridge collapsed because Pete Buttigieg is gay
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tours the Washington Bridge during his visit to Rhode Island on March 19 Photo: David DelPoio/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
A bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed after it was hit by a 100-ton cargo ship early Tuesday morning, and conservatives are already looking for ways to politicize the disaster, including blaming it on out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for… having children with his husband and being concerned about racism.
At 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, a cargo ship leaving the port of Baltimore and headed for Sri Lanka hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge following a power issue on board. Footage shows the ship hitting a column supporting the bridge, causing it to collapse within seconds as the ship bursts into flames.
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It is not yet known how many casualties there were. Several workers were repairing potholes on the bridge and some cars on the bridge fell into the cold water. Two survivors have been rescued so far, but one in “very serious condition, according to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.
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Six people, though, are still missing.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said that the bridge was “up to code” and just couldn’t withstand the impact of being hit by such a big ship.
Buttigieg has already gone to Baltimore to survey the damage, and President Joe Biden said that the federal government will pay to rebuild the bridge.
But that didn’t stop rightwingers from finding ways to blame the left, and particularly Buttigieg, for the disaster.
“Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to address Baltimore Bridge collapse as soon as he’s done chestfeeding,” one popular conservative X account posted, using a term that transmasculine people often use to describe feeding their children. Homophobic conservatives have been saying that Buttigieg chest- or breastfeeds his kids for years as an anti-gay joke.
🚨BREAKING: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to address Baltimore Bridge collapse as soon as he’s done chestfeeding. pic.twitter.com/kJVQ5Fc20U
— U.S. Ministry of Truth (@USMiniTru) March 26, 2024
Disgraced former Congressmember George Santos decided he was “revoking Pete’s gay card!” after someone else shared a clip of Buttigieg talking about how, historically, road projects have divided communities of color. The 2021 clip is being shared by many on the right today because he specifically used an example of a bridge, although it has nothing to do with this disaster or this bridge.
Others implied that being concerned with racism meant that bridges would have to be built less securely. And other conservatives just made homophobic jokes.
I’m so thankful that TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Pete Buttigieg is concerned with solving racist bridges, roads, highways, and tunnels.
I wonder if the Francis Scott Key Bridge was one of those racist bridges….
pic.twitter.com/JQPJD6Xhhj
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) March 26, 2024
Biden’s Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg previously blamed RACISM for bridge infrastructure issues in 2021.
“That obviously reflects racism that went into those design choices.”
pic.twitter.com/rP9JO6qoHg
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) March 26, 2024
🚨 BREAKING: US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Raises Collapsed Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge Using Gay Magic 🧙♂️🪄✨ pic.twitter.com/V5ldwLjvbs
— 𝓓𝖗. 𝓥𝖔𝐱 𝓞𝖈𝖚𝖑𝖎 (@Vox_Oculi) March 26, 2024
Baltimore’s collapsed bridge is in good hands, folks.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is ready to fight the racism of our infrastructure.pic.twitter.com/nsgFSCol6d
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) March 26, 2024
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore MD collapsed, following in the footsteps of the city itself.
Don’t worry, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg will be there soon in a hard hat to talk about how racist the bridge was.
pic.twitter.com/XrZPvWpYYK
— Joe Has Dementia (@RokerGlasses) March 26, 2024
How To Be The Secretary Of Transportation 101…..
Job: What Are Your Qualifications?
Pete: I’m Married To A Man
Job: You’re Hired
The bridge was racist, it deserved it.
-Pete Buttigieg (probably) pic.twitter.com/ntIi5u4sNk
— The United Spot (@TheUnitedSpot__) March 26, 2024
Imagine blaming racism for a bridge collapsing..
Pete Buttigieg just did that..
— Matt Couch (@RealMattCouch) March 26, 2024
Mayor Pete Buttigieg was asked to provide an explanation of the bridge accident in Baltimore, Maryland. He replied: “As a mother, I can tell you it’s hard to steer a boat while you’re nursing”. pic.twitter.com/nZjCzS76Lo
— Rob (@Robbopaloobop) March 26, 2024
Conservative activist Brigitte Gabriel called for Buttigieg to resign without explaining why.
Mayor Pete needs to resign immediately.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) March 26, 2024
Many progressives and LGBTQ+ people pushed back.
No MAGA lunatics, the horrific collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was not caused by Secretary Pete Buttigieg or immigrants, it was caused by a Cargo Container Ship colliding into it you evil despicable morons. Pro-life my ass.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) March 26, 2024
It was horrifying to watch the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor collapse.
Remember when Biden proposed his infrastructure bill to fix America’s crumbling bridges & 200 Republicans voted against it?
But of course R’s are blaming Pete Buttigieg for it.🤡#ProudBlue pic.twitter.com/W3j2BcpOll
— LA Blue Dot in GA 🌊💔 (@namwella1961) March 26, 2024
If you’re blaming Pete Buttigieg for a cargo ship crashing into a bridge causing it to collapse, you are NOT a serious person.
— 𝕏 Derrick 𝕏♎ 🟧 🟦#BLM 🇺🇦 🏳️🌈 (@Spawn_03) March 26, 2024
The MAGA cult is salivating at the thought of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse being a terrorist attack, a false flag event, the result of a woman or minority ship captain, or incredibly, Pete Buttigieg’s fault somehow.
They are truly unhinged anti-American psychopaths.
— The USA Singers (@TheUSASingers) March 26, 2024
A massive cargo ship lost power and crashed into a bridge support, which caused the entire bridge to collapse. It was an accident & a tragedy.
So far I’ve seen magats blaming DEI, immigrants from Mexico, Pete Buttigieg’s sexual orientation, & President Biden for the accident.
— Deez & B (@D3andB) March 26, 2024
For his part, Buttigieg was focused on the disaster, sharing gratitude for the first responders and information about the government response.
I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) March 26, 2024
