Pete Buttigieg, a fan of Chick-fil-A chicken

Democratic White House hopeful and South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg shied away from condemning the hotly debated fast-food chain Chick-fil-A during a radio interview Tuesday morning.

Buttigieg said the political discussion surrounding the American company that stems back to its CEO making anti-LGBT comments years ago provides an opportunity for a diverse crowd of consumers to “build that bridge” with the private sector.

“I do not approve of their politics, but I kind of approve of their chicken. Maybe, if nothing else, I can build that bridge,” Buttigieg, who if elected would be the first openly gay and the youngest president in history, said on “The Breakfast Club.”


The Atlanta-based fast-food chain has again been under scrutiny after corporate disclosures showed company leaders contributed millions to political organizations hostile to same-sex rights through WinShape Foundation, a charity started by Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy.

Buttigieg became a national figure when he ran an unsuccessful campaign for the DNC chairmanship in 2017.

[Read more: Pete Buttigieg climbs to third place in Iowa: Poll]

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