Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is going through backlash for a brand new actuality collection, “The Nice American Highway Journey,” which follows Duffy and his household as they journey to iconic locations throughout the US.
The challenge comes as U.S. gas prices have skyrocketed to greater than $4.50 a gallon amid the battle in Iran.
Duffy defended his aspect challenge for the Division of Transportation over the weekend, accusing critics of the five-part collection — which was filmed over the past seven months and is ready to air on YouTube — of being unpatriotic.
An individual walks throughout the road as an indication for gas costs is displayed at a fuel station, Might 6, 2026, in Portland, Ore.
Jenny Kane/AP
“The novel, depressing left has seen our superior Nice American Highway Journey trailer… and so they hate it. It is too healthful. It is too patriotic. It is too joyful,” he wrote in a put up on X on Saturday.
Duffy additional claimed his critics “don’t desire you to have a good time America” or “to show your children civics & patriotism.”
Duffy’s put up follows criticism from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who in a social media put up Friday referred to as the collection “brutally out of contact.”
“I really like street journey, however that is brutally out of contact: a Trump Cupboard member making a documentary about himself whereas common households can’t afford street journeys anymore, as a result of Trump and his battle put fuel costs via the roof,” Buttigieg wrote on X.
“The Nice American Highway Journey” follows Duffy and his spouse, Fox Information anchor Rachel Campos-Duffy, as they journey to well-known U.S. locations together with Civil Conflict battlegrounds, the Mayflower touchdown web site and Yellowstone Nationwide Park.
On YouTube, a trailer caption describes the collection as “an unforgettable civic expertise” meant to have a good time America’s 250th birthday.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks alongside Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Alex Wong/Getty Pictures
President Donald Trump is featured within the first moments of the newly launched “Nice American Highway Journey” trailer, greeting the Duffys within the Oval Workplace earlier than they hit the street.
Duffy, a former “The Actual World” star, wrote on X on Saturday that the challenge was filmed “briefly, one to 2 day manufacturing home windows — resembling weekends and the youngsters’ spring break.”
“Manufacturing prices had been paid for by the Nice American Highway Journey Inc., not taxpayers,” he wrote. “Zero taxpayer {dollars} had been spent on my household.”
Duffy additionally stated ethics and finances officers had “reviewed and authorized each my participation and particular person journey in accordance with federal guidelines.”
The web site for the challenge lists sponsors together with Boeing and United Airways, two corporations Duffy oversees as a part of his position as transportation secretary.
Duffy says he and his household weren’t paid to take part within the collection.
Reached for remark, a consultant for United advised ABC Information they’d nothing so as to add.
A Boeing spokesperson declined to remark when reached by ABC Information.
Tori Barnes, govt director of The Nice American Highway Journey, Inc., advised ABC Information in a press release on Monday, “The Nice American Highway Journey Inc. is proud to work with the primary Transportation Secretary who really understands the importance of selling and supporting journey and tourism in America, simply as he helps the vital infrastructure and techniques that make journey attainable by way of roads, bridges, within the air and by way of waterways.”
Editor’s be aware: This text has been up to date to notice that Sean Duffy and his household weren’t paid to take part in “The Nice American Highway Journey,” in keeping with the transportation secretary, and to notice United and Boeing representatives declined to remark when reached by ABC Information.
