Buttigieg clashes with Fox’s Kilmeade: ‘Is this an interview or a debate?’

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sparred with Fox News's Brian Kilmeade over electric vehicles (EV) during an interview on "Fox and Friends" Tuesday.

"Is this an interview or a debate? Can I at least finish the sentence?" Buttigieg asked after the two clashed over reliance on Chinese components for electric vehicles.

"Well, I just can't let you throw out fallacies. It's important," Kilmeade interjected.

"Excuse me? Name one statement that I just made that you would say is factually inaccurate," Buttigieg said.

"The statement you just made that Donald Trump let China take the lead," Kilmeade responded.

"I would say that, No. 1, he didn't want a mandate to tilt the playing field. If somebody wants an EV, they should be able to get it, not get a rebate if they buy it," Kilmeade added.

"And if somebody wants an EV, they can get it," Buttigieg said. "And if somebody wants a gas car, they can get it. But what we're doing is, we're making sure more of those are built in the U.S. And here's what's happening right now."

On Jan. 1, changes to the EV tax credit took effect and were expected to reduce the number of vehicles eligible for the tax credit, though they are part of the Biden administration’s efforts to promote EV adoption while reducing reliance on Chinese components in particular.

China controls much of the supply chain for EVs, even though the U.S. itself has many known deposits of the minerals required for them.

Throughout the interview, the two sparred over several discussion points, including the economy, as Buttigieg hit Trump on tax cuts for the rich, a reference to his 2017 tax cuts that Democrats have criticized.

"He's going to do tax cuts for the rich, and he's going to do this import tax, this tariff, that'll add $4,000 for a typical family. She’s going to do a child tax credit expansion and a middle-class tax cut," Buttigieg said.

"Well, I think you're right on the tariffs, but he's not looking to do a tax cut for the rich," Kilmeade replied, saying Trump is looking to continue with the current tax plan he has.

Buttigieg quickly responded, "Oh, of course he is," adding that the former president is "looking to renew his tax cuts for the rich."

The Hill has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Updated at 1:50 p.m. EST