Trump Selects Fox News Personality and Former Congressman as Transportation Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a cabinet that reflects two clear priorities:
- Making America great by draining the swamp
- Upsetting the establishment media to the point of derangement
Trump’s newest nominee, Sean Duffy, exemplifies both of these principles.
The former president took to Truth Social to announce his selection of Sean Duffy—a former Wisconsin congressman, Fox News contributor, and reality TV personality—as the next Secretary of Transportation.
“I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Sean Duffy, from the Great State of Wisconsin, is nominated to serve as the Secretary of Transportation,” Trump shared on Monday.
He added, “Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant, starting his career as a District Attorney for Ashland, Wisconsin, and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.”
Trump emphasized Duffy’s vision, stating he would prioritize “Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness, and Beauty” while spearheading infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, tunnels, and airports.
One of Duffy’s immediate goals? “Making our skies safe again by eliminating DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] initiatives for pilots and air traffic controllers,” Trump said.
This announcement has, unsurprisingly, sparked a wave of criticism from left-leaning outlets, many of which focused on Duffy’s television background rather than his political credentials.
For example, Politico referred to him dismissively as a “reality TV star” and highlighted his past role as an Uber executive. Rolling Stone chimed in with its trademark disdain, labeling Duffy “a fellow reality TV personality and Fox host” in a scathing social media post.
Such criticisms echo those aimed at another Trump cabinet nominee, Pete Hegseth, tapped to serve as Secretary of Defense.
Critics’ fixation on Duffy’s television appearances, however, overlooks his extensive public service. Duffy, who gained national attention as a cast member on The Real World: Boston, later served multiple terms in Congress. In contrast, his Democratic predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, was previously mayor of South Bend, Indiana—a city of just over 100,000 people.
While Buttigieg’s leadership experience as mayor is notable, Duffy’s national-level policymaking experience arguably provides stronger qualifications for the role of Transportation Secretary.
Duffy, for his part, appears unfazed by the backlash. Sharing Trump’s announcement, he posted: “Thank you, Mr. President. I’m eager to help you usher in a new golden age of transportation.” He punctuated his statement with the hashtag “#MAGA.”
Trump has set high expectations for Duffy, citing his extensive experience and connections in Congress.
“Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation,” Trump said.
“Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!”
Regardless of whether Duffy is confirmed, it’s clear Trump sees him as a key figure in shaping the future of America’s transportation system.