Duffy Defends Family Road-Trip Series Amid Backlash

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defended his five-part YouTube series The Great American Road Trip, saying a nonprofit paid all production costs and that he and his family received no salary or royalties.

The series was produced to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary and has attracted scrutiny because average fuel prices climbed to more than $4.50 per gallon, up roughly 50% since the U.S. entered war with Iran in late February.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten Glezman Buttigieg, criticized the project as out of touch, other Democratic politicians echoed the critique, and DOT spokesman Nathaniel Sizemore publicly defended the secretary.

Critics pointed to potential conflicts of interest because listed sponsors include Boeing, Toyota, Shell, Royal Caribbean Group, United Airlines and Comcast/NBCUniversal, some of which are regulated by the Transportation Department.

Duffy said filming took place over seven months and that career ethics and budget officials reviewed and cleared his participation, while his wife said production occurred in short one- and two-day stops and the Department called the nonprofit independent.