Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has turned an ambush planned by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., into a grilling of her own ethical standards.
She was in the process of lashing out at him over a trip he took, sponsored by various organizations, that was set up to be used to promote America 250 in a coming “The Great American Road Trip” project, a move that had the approval of Congress.
She charged, “It doesn’t smell right. I think it’s wrong, and I think you should explain to the American people why you should spend your time and why you should be getting a vacation that is paid for by companies that you regulate.”
Duffy’s response was to grill her about her jurisdiction over law firms, and the “$7 million in political contributions from the trial bar.”
Gillibrand was reduced to responding, “Oh my God. Honestly this hs nothing to do with members of Congress.”
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy just DEMOLISHED insufferable Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D)!
GILLIBRAND: Your [America250] road trip was paid for by companies you oversaw!
DUFFY: Do YOU have jurisdictions over law firms? You received $7 MILLION DOLLARS from the… pic.twitter.com/2DSGYze1Hj
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 19, 2026
🚨 BOOM! Sean Duffy just absolutely TORCHED Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the Senate hearing! 🔥
Gillibrand tries to smear Duffy’s “Great American Road Trip” (promoting U.S. travel for the 250th anniversary, zero personal profit) as “corporate pay-for-play.”
Duffy fires back:… pic.twitter.com/YncscEagzQ
— Today Updates 🇺🇸 (@TodayUpdates0) May 20, 2026
A report at RedState explained Gillibrand said, “Secretary Duffy. Secretary Duffy. I think you should be telling this committee why — this is what I’m concerned about. You are political, and you are using your position in political ways.”
Duffy pointed out the “half a million dollars paid by the trial bar to fly you on a private jet.”
She claimed, “I’ve never been on a private jet. No. We don’t, we don’t, we don’t — members of Congress aren’t allowed. Not true.”
The report noted, however, “Um … about that. The New York Democrat dropped nearly $270,000 on charter flights in 2024 alone — one of the highest totals in the Senate. During a midterm year in 2022, she reportedly spent about $350,000. Facts, as they say, are stubborn things.”
Social media’s comment was that Duffy “just DEMOLISHED” Gillibrand.
The report said Duffy then explained his trip.
“This was officially part of America 250, and you all sanctioned America 250,” Duffy continued. “This body told me that I’m supposed to promote tourism and travel, and that’s what it does as well.”
Also, WGRZ has reported that Gillibrand was No. 2 among all senators in tax dollars spent on charter plane flights last year. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was first.
“The two lawmakers regularly use charter planes to visit cities around the state when Congress is not in session,” the report said.
