Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday called for more exercise areas in the nation’s airports as part of his department’s new “family-friendly” campaign.
As part of the campaign, Duffy announced $1 billion in funding that airports can request to create more nursing rooms, children’s play areas, family-specific security screening lanes and areas for travelers to work out.
“Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing, doing some pull-ups or some step-ups in the airport,” said Duffy, who was joined by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a press conference at Ronald National Airport in Washington, D.C.
Minutes later, Kennedy and Duffy faced off in a pull-up competition when the transportation secretary was asked if he’s worried about travelers getting “smelly” after exercising.
“I don’t want you to have a full-body sweat going on until you stink,” said Duffy, who recently talked of bringing “civility” back to airports and recommended Americans “dress up a little bit.”
“But if you do a few pull-ups, get your blood flowing, I think that’s positive. So this is not like, go to the gym, sweat and then get on an airplane.”
Critics on social media weren’t having it with Duffy, including one user on Bluesky who slammed both of his “idiotic” proposals in recent weeks.