'Secretary is incorrect': Maggie Haberman breaks with Buttigieg's theory on Trump

A prominent New York Times reporter disagreed with Pete Buttigieg on Friday after the transportation secretary theorized a day earlier that former President Donald Trump's repeated false claim that Haitian migrants are eating pets was a strategy to distract people from Trump's record.

Buttigieg told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Thursday night that there's "even more to it than demonizing immigrants" for Trump.

“This is a strategy to get us talking about the latest crazy thing that he did, whatever urban legend he amplifies – right now it’s about people eating cats or geese or whatever – because he cannot afford for us to be talking about his record," said Buttigieg.

Maggie Haberman told Collins on Friday she's doubtful Trump has much strategy behind promoting the baseless and racist conspiracy theory.

"I think one of the most important quotes that was ever said about Donald Trump as president was by someone who told Buzzfeed that everyone thinks this is 3-D chess, but most of the time he's eating the pieces," said Haberman. "I think that is worth bearing in mind a lot."

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Haberman acknowledged that Trump is likely trying to get people to talk about the theory, but it's likely not borne out of a discussion about it being "great politics."

"He likes talking about these things," said Haberman. "He likes creating controversy. He likes being the center of attention. I think the secretary is incorrect that this is a strategy to distract from his record, but I do think it's a strategy to drive news cycles."

While the Trump campaign may not have advised him to repeat the Springfield, Ohio, theory, the campaign believes any topic that highlights immigration is good for them "no matter how much race-bating is a part of it."

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