"Whole cabinet is just reality TV actors"— Netizens react as Trump appoints Real World: Boston star Sean Duffy as Secretary of Transportation
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 18 that former reality TV star Sean Duffy will be the Secretary of Transportation in his Cabinet. Duffy, who gained recognition as a Congressman serving from 2011 to 2019, made his first TV appearance on MTV's The Real World: Boston in 1997.
Sean went on to appear on a few more reality TV shows, including Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Battle of the Seasons and The Real World Awards Bash. He met his wife Rachel Campos on the Road Rules: All Stars set in 1998. He also worked as a sports commentator and a District Attorney for Ashland County.
However, Sean Duffy's Cabinet appointment garnered mixed reactions from netizens. Trump supporters lauded Sean's inclusion, claiming he would do a better job than the current Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg. Others, on the other hand, seemingly expressed their disapproval.
"whole cabinet is just reality tv actors", wrote one X user.
Many deemed Donald Trump's Cabinet picks as unexpected and random.
"They just be giving anyone jobs in the government now", commented one person.
"so is the entire government just gonna be fox news hosts and random conservative dudes with no qualifications?", resonated another.
"America is an MTV reality show now lol", joked one person.
One person claimed that Trump was not paying attention to qualifications when selecting his Cabinet members. Rather, the President-elect's decisions were becoming entertainment content to everyone.
"From a reality TV star to Secretary of Transportation! Once again, Donald Trump's decision shows his focus is not on qualifications but on entertainment. Are we now going to base decisions about the country's infrastructure on TRPs?", wrote one X user.
"Elon told him what to do here", mocked another.
Trump chalks out Sean Duffy's objectives as the next Transportation Secretary
Sean Duffy previously served as a House Representative for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District for nine years. Donald Trump praised the 53-year-old as a "tremendous and well-liked public servant." The President-elect further commended Sean's previous contribution to Congress, crediting him for being a "respected voice and communicator."
Trump claimed that "the largest roads and bridge project in Minnesota history" was built under Sean's supervision. He also credited the former Congressman for playing a vital role in developing strong economic policies. During his tenure as a House Rep., Sean was in the House Committee on Financial Services. He served as chairman of its subcommittee that dealt with housing and insurance.
Briefing the tasks Sean will shoulder once Trump takes office, the 78-year-old wrote:
"He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America's highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve out Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers."
Donald Trump referred to Sean's wife, Rachel, as a "wonderful woman" and their nine children as "incredible."
Sean Duffy is currently a Fox Business co-host for The Bottom Line. His appointment to Trump's Cabinet comes a week after another Fox-affiliated TV presenter Pete Hegseth's addition as Defense Secretary.