President Donald Trump playfully scolded Sean Duffy for mispronouncing "Buttigieg" during a White House press conference on Wednesday.
Duffy, Secretary of Transportation and acting administrator for NASA, was commenting on an announcement that the Trump administration is slashing fuel economy standards put in place by former President Joe Biden. The move is aimed at making it easier for automakers to sell gasoline-powered vehicles.
"Congress set a rule that says you have to look at combustion engines. Biden and Buttigieg actually did an analysis..." Duffy said, before Trump interjected to correct his pronunciation of Buttigieg, the last name of Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation.
"Boot edge edge!" Trump exclaimed, correcting Duffy.
Laughter broke out among the lawmakers surrounding Trump and the press.
"Edge. Edge. I'm sorry," Duffy said.
DUFFY: Buttigieg--
TRUMP: Boot edge edge!
DUFFY: Edge Edge. I'm sorry pic.twitter.com/qza17YBAKx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 3, 2025