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Pete Buttigieg caught unloading bike from SUV before riding to work for 'green' photo-op: 'Dog and pony show'

Buttigieg's attempt to show off his environment-friendly mode of transportation apparently failed as many captured him taking out the bike from his gas-guzzling SUV

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s attempt to present himself as environment friendly reportedly went bad as a viral clip on Twitter shows him unloading a bike from a gas-guzzling SUV before riding it to a cabinet meeting two blocks away. The 39-year-old politician was captured riding the bicycle while going for the meeting on Thursday, April 1, however, later it was found the act was reportedly an attempt at a photo-op.

As per reports, Buttigieg -- who has been leading the charge on President Joe Biden administration's efforts to battle climate change -- wanted to show off his environment-friendly mode of transportation, but it apparently failed as CNN reporter DJ Judd caught him in action while taking out the bike from the SUV moments before. He then shared the clip on Twitter with a caption that read, “Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg biked to the White House for today's Cabinet Meeting, it would appear.”

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Besides Judd, WFMZ-TV also posted a longer video, which clearly showed Buttigieg’s security men offloading the bike and checking it properly before the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, rode it towards the White House, while being closely followed by security personnel on vehicles. Buttigieg’s botched attempt was confirmed as the clothes he was wearing while riding the bicycle matched the ones he was seen wearing at the White House meeting. Biden's Twitter account had posted a picture of the meeting on Thursday with a caption that read, “A Cabinet that looks like America.” Buttigieg was also caught riding the bike in the same suit by SCOTUS Blog staffer Katie Barlow, which was also shared on Twitter.

Judd’s video on social media has attracted one million views with thousands of retweets and several comments. One user wrote, “Biking 2 blocks to work is fine...if you live 2 blocks from work. Biking two blocks after driving all but two blocks to work is grandstanding and not ‘showing a good example.’ The only example he is showing is that he knows how to ride a bike.” Another one commented, “Pete Buttigieg's dog and pony show. Use an armored Suburban to bring a bike within a short distance of the destination. Unload it and ride in with a security detail in tow, pretending to save energy.”

“The reminds me of Bill Clinton jogging 2 blocks and then picked up by Arkansas security detail to go on trysts and then getting dropped off and jogging back to mansion,” a third user noted. “Photo ops are nothing new. I remember a paper towel jump shot meme related to these type of shenanigans,” the fourth user added.

However, there were some who seemed to be in favor of Buttigieg. One such supporter said, “I dont really see any problem, politians around the world are prone to do PR stunts, what People should keep an eye on is their policy Track Record. That is what really matters.” Another one commented, “That looks like he’s leaving today’s Cabinet meeting at the White House. DOT is a reasonably long and brisk bike ride from there. I don’t see the problem. He arrives at WH with a bike in the back and decides to ride it back across town.”