Fox News Host Rachel Campos-Duffy Jokes About Husband Sean Duffy's Appointment as U.S. Transportation Secretary

During a recent episode of "The Katie Miller Podcast" released on September 1, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy discussed her husband Sean Duffy’s appointment as the United States Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump, characterizing the Cabinet post as the only remaining option available at the time of his selection. Campos-Duffy stated, "He said he wanted to serve the president in any way. He ended up in Transportation because that was all that's left."

Sean Duffy, who was confirmed by the Senate in January 2025, has served as Transportation Secretary for over a year. His confirmation came after a career in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Wisconsin from 2011 to 2019. Prior to his political career, Duffy was known for his appearances on MTV's "The Real World: Boston" and other reality television programs, which is also where he met Campos-Duffy, now a co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekend."

During the podcast, Duffy elaborated on the appointment process, recounting that President Trump presented the Transportation Department as the most desirable agency, reflecting Trump’s priorities stemming from his background as a real estate developer. Duffy recalled Trump saying, "If I wasn’t the president, I would pick the Department of Transportation over any department. It’s the best department, and I’m going to give it to you." Duffy linked the president’s enthusiasm to his focus on infrastructure, stating that Trump is "a builder, whether it's roads or bridges."

Campos-Duffy added that Trump offered a direct charge to her husband when giving him the role, stating, "He did say don’t eff it up."

Duffy’s tenure as Transportation Secretary began amid significant challenges. Shortly after his confirmation, a fatal aviation crash occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., resulting in 67 deaths. This incident placed immediate focus on aviation safety within the department. During his confirmation hearing, Duffy pledged to prioritize the hiring of additional air traffic controllers and to work with Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration to restore international confidence in Boeing following fatal crashes overseas.

A White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, stated that President Trump nominated Duffy due to his confidence in his capacity to modernize the department and address what the administration described as "Biden’s idiotic DEI policies in our critical air traffic control systems," as well as to manage immigration issues related to commercial trucking. Desai described Duffy as an "America-First patriot" and pointed to the department’s "historic achievements" under Duffy’s leadership as evidence of the president’s judgment.

Trump has also publicly referenced Duffy’s experience as a professional lumberjack, noting last year that he was "the world champion for five years climbing trees and down, up and down." Duffy’s background in competitive lumberjack sports was cited by Trump as a factor in his praise for Duffy’s work ethic and suitability for the role.

Addressing potential conflicts of interest given her roles as both a Fox News host and the spouse of a Cabinet secretary, Campos-Duffy stated during the interview that she avoids covering transportation-related topics on her program. "I don’t talk about anything to do with transportation, and Fox wouldn’t want me to," she said, while also acknowledging her public support for President Trump.

The couple also discussed aspects of their personal life during the podcast. Campos-Duffy noted that they have nine children, all of whom she described as unplanned, referencing their Catholic faith and her choice not to use birth control. Duffy addressed his recent viral comments warning his daughter about attending Harvard University, asserting that the institution had "professionalized" the process of influencing young minds and describing concerns that conservative students may return home with markedly different views. "It’s a worthwhile discussion because they all know someone — whether it’s themselves, a family member, a neighbor — who sent a very well-raised conservative child off to one of these universities and the kid comes back radicalized," Duffy said.

Duffy reported that the majority of his time as Transportation Secretary has been occupied by aviation issues. He referenced his department's responses to airline price increases attributed to the Iran war, long airport lines resulting from a partial government shutdown, and a series of recent air disasters. These challenges have brought increased scrutiny to the Department of Transportation’s regulatory and operational capacities.

In addition to his Cabinet duties, Duffy recently released a reality TV series documenting his family’s travels across the United States.

The conversation between Campos-Duffy and Miller also touched on the nature of Cabinet appointments late in an administration, the intersection of personal relationships and professional responsibilities in the media, and the broader cultural and political debates that intersect with both public service and broadcast journalism.

The episode provided a rare perspective on the appointment process for a senior executive branch position, highlighting both the personal dynamics involved and the policy priorities that have defined Duffy’s tenure as Transportation Secretary.