Out former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg will guest host Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night.
Appearing on the TODAY show, Buttigieg revealed his thoughts on the diversity of the eventual ticket. He also teased viewers with a Kimmel-related announcement: who one of the guests will be.
Related: Tammy Baldwin would be the ideal vice-presidential choice for Joe Biden
Journalist Craig Melvin asked Buttigieg about the eventual Democratic presidential candidate’s pick for vice president. After the widest field of diverse candidates in the party’s history, the choice had narrowed down to two elderly white men – former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
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“Despite a crowded field that included the first openly gay candidate, a Hispanic man, several women including a black woman, and an Asian man, now your party is left with two white guys in their late 70s. Is there an obligation for one of them to pick a vice president from the aforementioned group?” Melvin asked.
“I do think it’ll be very important to have diversity on the ticket,” Buttigieg said. “And in his future cabinet.”
“An obligation,” Melvin pressed. “Is there an obligation?”
“I’m not going to place obligations on the future nominee but certainly as a voter and as a Democrat I would expect to see that kind of diversity on the ticket,” Buttigieg replied.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana dropped out of the Democratic primary race earlier this month and endorsed Biden.
When Melvin asked what he’ll do next, Buttigieg said that he and his husband Chasten will take some time away as he reassesses how he can help in the future. But more immediately, he’s going to have some fun along the way.
“On Thursday, I’m going to be guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live, so we’re really excited about that. We’re lining up a great slate of guests. Sir Patrick Stewart’s coming on. Very excited about that.”
“Amy Klobuchar? Did she want to be a guest?” Melvin joked.
“You know, I’m hoping to catch up with her soon, but, you know, uh…” Buttigieg stammered.
“It’s going to be fun. The thing about coming off a presidential campaign is that you’ve been focused on one thing and one thing only. It’s nice to be able to zoom out and come back at life.”
Watch @PeteButtigieg’s full exclusive interview with @craigmelvin about why he left the presidential race, what’s next for him and much more. pic.twitter.com/sDrSVJrO2z
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 9, 2020
