California Governor Gavin Newsom has called out Sean Duffy for an idea to make people more active in airports.
The Transport Secretary believes workout areas in airports may improve experiences for travellers. Speaking from Reagan International Airport in Arlington, Virginia, and backed by Health Secretary RFK Jr., Duffy outlined an idea to give travellers a space to perform "pull ups or step ups" in airports across the country.
He said, "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport." This did not sit well with Governor of California Newsom, who suggested Duffy should focus his efforts on keeping flights running.
Newsom wrote on X, "Sean Duffy would like you to do pulls up while he forces you to wait for your delayed flight." To promote the pull ups idea, Duffy and RFK Jr. were spotted on the "Make Travel Family Friendly Again" campaign trail performing pull ups.
Kennedy and Duffy held a pull-up contest near the airport's security line. Kennedy did 20 pull-ups, and Duffy did 10. Political analysts were unconvinced the contest would appeal to the public.
Governor Newsom's Press Office shared a post of Duffy pulling himself up on the bar and writing, "Thank you @SecDuffy this is exactly what we were missing to make airports more pleasant and enjoyable."
Washburn law professor Joseph Mastrosimone wrote, "How much of my money did these two idiots spend today on this nonsense?" CNN producer DJ Judd posted on X, "If there’s one thing the airport experience needs, it’s ego contests from Cabinet Secretaries outside of security!"
The pull ups suggestion comes as Duffy cracks down on travel fashion, with the Transport Secretary wanting passengers to bring back "civility and manners" to air travel.
He said, "Manners don't stop at the gate. Things aren't what they used to be. Let's bring civility and manners back. Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? Are you dressing with respect?"
Air travel expert Scott Keyes told the BBC Duffy may as well "ask a wall to start printing you money", and would say very few people are actively looking to fall out with other passengers. He said, "Very few people show up for their flight itching to pick a fight with another passenger."