Transportation Secretary Duffy filmed a reality show, funded by firms he regulates [View all]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has returned to his reality television roots, filming a cross-country road trip with his family that will be released as an unscripted series ahead of America's 250th birthday in July.

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Critics — from prominent Democrats to social media commenters — called it out of touch, as the administration's war in Iran has pushed gas prices to their highest level since July 2022. Some openly wondered whether taxpayers had footed the bill for Duffy's family vacation.

"The radical, miserable left has noticed our awesome Great American Road Trip trailer… and they hate it," Duffy wrote in a lengthy X response on Saturday. "They're upset because they don't want you to celebrate America! And they definitely don't want you to teach your kids civics & patriotism."

Those involved say production costs were covered by a nonprofit by the same name, The Great American Road Trip Inc. Its public list of sponsors is stacked with travel-related companies — like Toyota, Boeing and United Airlines — with ties to the Department of Transportation, raising more questions.

https://www.npr.org/2026/05/12/nx-s1-5818190/sean-duffy-road-trip-reality-show-sponsors