Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and out political leader Pete Buttigieg says there’s still reason to be hopeful about America’s future — but insists that real change depends on collective action rather than wishful thinking.
Appearing on The Opinions podcast by The New York Times, Buttigieg reflected on the state of American politics, the need to rebuild trust in public institutions, and why hope must be treated as “a responsibility.”
“I’ve heard it said that hope is the consequence of action more than its cause,” he told host David Leonhardt.
“Instead of waiting around for hope, we actually have an obligation — a responsibility — to build hope. And that hope is the result of what we do in this moment.”
Rebuilding After Trump
Buttigieg — a longtime advocate for pragmatic optimism — said political leaders of all stripes must see the current political upheaval as a chance to reimagine America’s institutions.
“I’m not saying it was OK to tear them down,” he explained. “But since it’s happening, we might as well face the fact that they weren’t perfect before — and now we can rebuild them.”
The former presidential candidate believes the time is now to start planning for a post-Trump political landscape.
“One day, Donald Trump will not be active in American politics,” he said. “The sooner we spend our energy thinking about what to do next, I actually think the sooner that day will come.”
How Democrats Can Win Back Voters
Buttigieg urged Democrats to reconnect with voters by striking a balance between defending marginalised communities and communicating a broader, inclusive vision.
“If it seems that all we can see is one group at a time, then we’re not really telling a story that speaks to everybody,” he said.
He added that while addressing systemic injustices is vital, Democrats should also make it clear they don’t see America as “fundamentally evil.”
“We can’t lose sight of the fact that on most major issues, most people tend to agree with us,” he noted. “We shouldn’t shy away from our values just because the last election didn’t go our way.”
On Leadership and Big Ideas
According to Buttigieg, modern leadership must combine consensus-building with bold vision, even if people aren’t ready for sweeping change.
“The only way to prepare people for big change is to continue to introduce the big idea,” he said. “Some things take a generation, but that’s why it’s important to start talking about them now.”
He cited the LGBTQ+ rights movement as proof that progress can happen faster than many expect.
“What’s inspiring about the gay equality movement is that it didn’t just take something from being unpopular to being popular — it took ideas that were preposterous for one generation and made them consensus for the next.”
The Need for Connection
To heal divisions and counter extremism, Buttigieg argued that Americans must invest in “social infrastructure” — public spaces that foster community and belonging.
“We know the very ugly alternatives for people who can’t seem to find belonging, and those include extremism and nationalism,” he said. “We can and should do better.”
“If you have more safe, physical spaces for your kids to play in and for people to gather in, that really matters. It can help be an antidote to the retreat into the screen, which is harmful for kids — and pretty poisonous for adults too.”
Looking Forward
Speaking at the Global Progress Action Summit in London earlier this year, Buttigieg told an audience of progressive thinkers that the world is on the cusp of necessary transformation.
“Things are probably going to get worse before they get better,” he said. “And yet I’m optimistic — not because things are better than they look, but because we’ve reached a point where we’ll have to fashion something entirely new.”
“That moment will come when Donald Trump is no longer politically active in the United States. And that will happen.”
Buttigieg’s message, ultimately, is one of actionable hope: the belief that progress isn’t waiting to be discovered — it’s something people must build together.
