Republicans fault Buttigieg for time off with newborns. Democrats say he’s showing the need for paid parental leave.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg struck back Friday at Republican critics who faulted him for taking time off with his husband and two newborns, saying he was “blessed” to have the kind of family leave the Biden administration is seeking to make the national standard.

“What we have right now is an administration that’s actually pro-family, and I’m blessed to be able to experience that as an employee, being able to have the flexibility to take care of our newborn children, which is, by the way, work,” Buttigieg said in an interview with MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace. “It’s joyful work. It’s wonderful work, but it’s definitely work.”