RismadarVoice Reporters, May 11, 2026
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy has defended his new reality television series after critics described the project as insensitive at a time when Americans are facing rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran.
The five-part YouTube series, titled The Great American Road Trip, follows Duffy, his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, and their nine children as they travel across the United States in celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
In the show’s trailer, Duffy describes the project as an effort to encourage patriotism and civic engagement through travel across the country.
The series, however, has sparked backlash online, with critics arguing that promoting cross-country road trips appears disconnected from the economic realities facing many Americans as gas prices rise above $4.50 per gallon.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticised the project on social media, accusing Duffy of being “out of touch” while families struggle with fuel and living costs.
Other Democratic figures, including JB Pritzker and Gavin Newsom, also questioned the timing of the series and Duffy’s focus while serving in government.
In response, the U.S. Transportation Department defended the programme, arguing that critics previously supported policies that increased fuel prices and pushed costly electric vehicle policies.
Department spokesperson Nathaniel Sizemore said Duffy had taken steps to support affordable transportation and the administration’s energy agenda.
The department also stated that production costs for the show were covered entirely by a nonprofit organisation, The Great American Road Trip Inc., and not by taxpayers. According to officials, neither Duffy nor his family received salaries or royalties from the production.
Questions have also been raised over potential conflicts of interest because some sponsors of the show including Boeing, Toyota, Shell, Royal Caribbean Group, and United Airlines are companies overseen by the Transportation Department.
The department maintained that the nonprofit independently handled sponsorship decisions.
Duffy also rejected criticism about the amount of time spent filming the series, insisting that ethics and budget officials reviewed and approved his participation in accordance with federal rules.
He described the criticism as politically motivated and defended the project as a celebration of American values, civics, and patriotism.
