Newsmax's Greg Kelly says “it does disappoint me” that Sean Duffy made a reality show; Kelly claims that “the deep state” set Duffy up
Greg Kelly on Sean Duffy's reality show: “I don't think this should be happening when you have a job in the cabinet”
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From the May 13, 2026, edition of Newsmax's Greg Kelly Reports
GREG KELLY (HOST): The DOT and Sean Duffy. Look, I've been impressed with Sean Duffy for a long time. You know, before he — after the reality show stopped back in the 90s, he became a prosecutor. He became a congressman. He became a very good broadcaster, and he was definitely qualified to be the secretary of transportation. So it does disappoint me when he makes a demo reel for a reality show on basically our time.
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KELLY: Alright. It's kind of cute, but not really. I'm sorry.
I don't think this should be happening when you have a job in the cabinet. That's a big deal. It's administrative job, and it's a political job too.
So, here's where I think the deep state set him up.
He asked for permission from the men and women of the Department of Transportation. Career and ethics budget officials at the Department of Transportation reviewed and approved both my participation and individual travel in accordance with federal rules.
Career ethics and budget officials. Look, if you got to talk to career ethics and budget officials to find out if you can do something or not, if you actually have to ask the question, maybe you just shouldn't do it in the first place. OK?
I think they set him up. They gave the OK to this knowing that he could go down. A lot of people don't like it.
Similar thing happened to Kristi Noem. Remember her on that horse? Right? I mean, she looked great, but it was odd and expensive, and she shouldn't have done it. So, Kristi and maybe Sean, just I don't know. When you're the secretary, be the secretary. Why do you want to go on vacation or I don't know. Maybe it's me. A lot of folks disagree with me and that's OK.