Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg thinks it's time for Democrats to start thinking about what American politics looks like without Donald Trump in the picture. And according to him, they're not the only ones.

GOP Leaders Looking Past Trump

Speaking on the Jimmy Kimmel Show Thursday, Buttigieg argued that some Republican leaders are "defying this President" in ways he called "remarkable." He posted a video on X claiming that "key Republicans" were beginning to "prepare for the inevitable."

"You're seeing it with people I never thought you would see this from," Buttigieg said, name-checking Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace as examples of Republicans "criticizing Republican leadership." His take? "I think the way his power is starting to collapse will be first within his party and then more broadly in the country."

As evidence, Buttigieg highlighted how Republican lawmakers in Indiana recently blocked Trump-backed redistricting legislation after it failed to secure enough votes to advance.

Still, he acknowledged that Democratic leaders are "struggling" to envision what comes after Trump's second term ends and he's "no longer active in American politics."

Fuel Economy Standards Take Center Stage

The timing is interesting. Buttigieg's comments come shortly after the Trump administration rolled back Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, framing the move as a win for affordability and safety in the auto industry. Sen. Ted Cruz praised the decision, as did current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who took a swing at Buttigieg's "backdoor EV mandate" and blamed it for driving up car prices.

Greene Speaks Out Against Trump

Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she felt "very sorry" for Trump, but also revealed that his public attacks on her—he called her a "traitor"—have led to serious threats against her family.