Jake Tapper Grills Pete Buttigieg Over Biden’s Handling Of Chinese Spy Balloon

CNN’s Jake Tapper grilled Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday about the administration’s controversial handling of the Chinese spy balloon that traversed across the U.S. over the last several days.

Buttigieg made the remarks during an interview broadcast on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Tapper wanted the reason why the spy ballon was not downed nearly two weeks after it was first discovered in Alaskan airspace.

Buttigieg responded that it was all about safety.

“Is it acceptable that there were eight days that the spy balloon was over the United States, then Canada, then again over the United States, from Idaho, Montana, all the way through the Carolinas for day after day?” Tapper asked.

Buttigieg responded, “In terms of how to handle it, that’s something that was done based on assessment of the risks, making sure that there was no risks that outweighed the risks in terms of any damage that would come, and it was handled appropriately.”

Tapper pointed out that the spy balloon may have been able gather intelligence while it flew above numerous U.S. military bases as well as nuclear missile fields.

“When did the Biden administration first learn about this balloon, this spy balloon, entering U.S. airspace?” Tapper asked. “We’re told it first did so, it first entered U.S. airspace over Alaska two Saturdays ago. Is that when the Biden administration learned about it?”

Buttigieg didn’t answer the question. He said,  “I really can’t speak to that.”

PETE BUTTIGIEG U.S. TRANSPORTATION SERETARY: We are glad to be here.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: So, the — this suspected Chinese spy alone entered U.S. airspace eight days ago, two Saturdays ago, in Alaska. Why didn’t the U.S. shoot it down when it became obvious that this wasn’t an accident?

BUTTIGIEG : The president again gave instructions for it to be handled and to be shot down in a safe manner.

As, you may have seen, there’s reporting now that the debris field that was created by this balloon when it was shot down was about seven miles’ long. So, any time the military contemplates an operation like this, they must consider the safety and well-being of the American people.

This was the president’s demand. He demanded that all risks be balanced. That’s exactly what happened. The military did a great job. Our main concern, from the DOT’s perspective, is the safety and security of national airspace.

The thing was located above the area where flights take place, so any debris would have had to pass through national airspace. The FAA and the Pentagon work closely together. In this case, they had to make ground stops at the Eastern Seaboard airports, as well as close some of the airspace, to ensure that everything was safe during the operation.

The operation was conducted without any injury or damage to American property or lives.

TAPPER: Obviously, that’s great that there were no Americans hurt by this.

But is it acceptable that there were eight days that the spy sat — spy balloon was over the United States, then Canada, then again over the United States, from Idaho, Montana, all the way through the Carolinas for day after day?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, as the U.S. has communicated, it’s not acceptable at all that China sent this object into our airspace.

But in terms of how to handle it, that’s something that was done based on assessment of the risks, making sure that there was no risks that outweighed the risks in terms of any damage that would come, and it was handled appropriately.

TAPPER: You say that there was a debris field of seven miles over the Atlantic Ocean, where it was shot down.

What, if anything, was recovered? Obviously, there’s a lot of interest in getting the material, getting the debris and being able to conduct intelligence operations of our own, of the United States’ own, against the Chinese for this balloon.

BUTTIGIEG: I really can’t. Everything about the tactics, timing, and manner of it all ultimately comes down to the Pentagon.

I’m just glad that there was no damage or threat to U.S. aviation operations, and that this operation took place, was done in a very effective, excellent way, as you would expect from the American military, without any consequences for Americans on the ground.

TAPPER: There are many concerns expressed by senators as well as governors. The balloon may have flown and gathered intelligence over sensitive parts of the United States’ infrastructure.

There’s Malmstrom Air Force Base and nuclear ballistic missile fields in Montana, if you look at the map there, Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Is it a assumption that the balloon could be launched?

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