A new reality show featuring Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his family has sparked controversy, with one company reportedly declining to sponsor the project due to ethical concerns. The show, titled The Great American Road Trip, is set to be released on YouTube for free next month as part of the celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. However, it has already faced criticism from some nonprofit groups and Democratic politicians.
The production costs of the show are being covered by Great American Road Trip Inc., a nonprofit organisation led by Tori Barnes, who previously worked as a lobbyist for the U.S. Travel Association. According to the nonprofit’s website, several major corporations, including Toyota and Boeing, have also provided sponsorship for the project. However, one company refused to get involved after being approached by Barnes’ group, according to a report by Politico. The outlet did not name the company but cited an unnamed source who claimed there were ethical concerns about the proposal.
“You’re paying for access through Tori’s group. This is a little too cute,” the source said.
When contacted for comment, Barnes responded to The Independent, saying: “The source is anonymous because it’s a lie.” She added that the Secretary met with various individuals during the road trip, including port directors, small business owners, transportation experts, aquariums, and destination leaders, none of whom are paying partners.
“Secretary Duffy is the most accessible Secretary we have ever seen,” she said. “In the past few weeks, he did an event with Amtrak, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and many more that can be seen through X and Instagram posts. None of them are [Great American Road Trip] partners.”
The Transportation Department confirmed that Barnes’ nonprofit paid for the show’s production costs. A spokesperson for the department stated: “The Secretary’s participation in the Great American Roadtrip was approved by USDOT career ethic attorneys. No taxpayer dollars were used for production costs nor did the family receive any compensation for their participation.”
“Celebrating America’s 250th is part of the Secretary’s official duties, and the series will showcase America’s roads, landmarks, infrastructure, and people,” the spokesperson added.
The project has drawn scrutiny, including from the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which has asked the Transportation Department’s inspector general to investigate whether Duffy violated federal gift and travel rules.
Duffy responded to the criticism by attacking the “radical, miserable left” after the show’s trailer received backlash. He wrote on X: “They’re upset because they don’t want you to celebrate America! And they definitely don’t want you to teach your kids civics & patriotism. So they tell lies to undermine the mission.”
According to Barnes, the project is driven by three key pillars:
- To celebrate America’s 250th birthday
- To promote travel and tourism
- To bring a focus to the transportation, infrastructure, and ingenuity that built America over the past 250 years and will build America over the next 250 years
“We are supported by partners who share these goals and believe in encouraging Americans to rediscover the people, places, and experiences that define our country,” she added.
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