Gas Prices, Glamour, and Backlash: Duffy’s Family Road Trip Sparks controversy

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy drew sharp backlash after promoting his seven‑month family road‑trip reality project tied to America’s 250th birthday, insisting the production wasn’t funded by taxpayers while critics argued it was out of touch as gas prices rise. Duffy defended the show on X, noting private funding through The Great American Road Trip Inc. and arguing the private promo conflicted with concerns about travel costs for ordinary Americans, as fellow officials like Pete Buttigieg and Chasten Buttigieg blasted the messaging.