Transportation Secretary Duffy filmed a reality show, funded by firms he regulates

Politics Transportation Secretary Duffy filmed a reality show, funded by firms he regulates May 12, 202612:11 PM ET By  Rachel Treisman Duffy says he and his family filmed "The Great American Road Trip" in brief windows, like weekends and school vacations, during a seven-month period. Department of Transportation/Screenshot by NPR hide caption toggle caption Department of Transportation/Screenshot by NPR 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. "The Great American Road Trip" follows Duffy, his wife and nine children on what he calls "a civic experience" — and encourages other families to follow suit. "The motto is: to love America is to see America," Duffy says in the four-minute trailer, which dropped Friday. "It's one of the most powerful ways to understand this vast, beautiful, complicated place we call home." Sponsor Message History America has a major birthday coming up — here's what to expect for the big 2-5-0 The video shows the family snowmobiling out West, visiting Philadelphia's historic landmarks, thanking veterans at a diner and enjoying waterslides, interspersed with some backseat teasing and hints of a dramatic emergency-room visit. It also features cameos by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, country musicians Kid Rock and John Rich, a Benjamin Franklin reenactor and President Trump, who describes their exploits as "a little trip all over." The trailer prompted backlash almost immediately. 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 wrot...