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."



"I do not approve of their politics, but I do kind of approve of their chicken." – @PeteButtigieg



The openly gay 2020 Dem candidate is torn over @ChickfilA's owner's statements on homosexuality, but says, if he becomes President, that maybe he can "broker that peace deal." pic.twitter.com/tLawq7HjSy — Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 26, 2019



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.

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