Former Congressman and Fox News contributor Sean Duffy didn’t hold back when he took aim at former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this week. In a searing critique broadcast during a Hannity segment, Duffy tore into Buttigieg’s record, labeling him “Pothole Pete” and accusing him of prioritizing political correctness over actual infrastructure results.
“Let’s go over Pothole Pete’s record,” Duffy began. “He has failed at every turn. From airline chaos to port bottlenecks to train derailments, the man has been missing in action. And when he does show up, it’s to lecture Americans on pronouns or climate equity.”
Duffy’s comments came during a deep-dive into the ongoing issues plaguing the U.S. transportation sector. Airlines have seen delays and cancellations skyrocket. Freight bottlenecks continue to disrupt supply chains. And under Buttigieg’s watch, catastrophic train derailments—most notably the East Palestine disaster—shook the nation’s confidence in federal oversight.
“What did Pete do when East Palestine blew up? He showed up late, wore a hard hat, and talked about ‘inclusive infrastructure.’ You can’t make this stuff up,” Duffy mocked. His tone was scathing but echoed a sentiment shared by many across the country.
Known as “Pothole Pete” since his days as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Buttigieg gained notoriety for failing to fix basic road conditions during his tenure. Duffy pointed out that even local residents in South Bend laughed off the idea that he was ready for national leadership. “You think the man who couldn’t fix potholes in a mid-size Indiana town can fix a national supply chain crisis?” he asked.
The airline meltdown over the holidays provided Duffy with more ammunition. Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, leaving travelers stranded and furious. Buttigieg, who is supposed to regulate the airline industry, responded with vague promises and a few sternly worded tweets.
“Tweets don’t get planes in the air,” Duffy said. “Accountability does. Action does. But you won’t get either from a guy more focused on symbolic wokeness than delivering real results.”
Duffy also called out Buttigieg’s frequent absences. “While truckers were stuck at the border, Pete was on paternity leave,” he said. “Now, I’m all for family time, but you don’t get to disappear when the country is facing a transportation crisis.”
Critics of Buttigieg have long accused him of using the Transportation Department as a stepping stone for higher office. Duffy seized on that accusation. “Pete’s not solving problems—he’s polishing his résumé,” he charged. “And what’s worse is the media keeps covering for him.”
Fox News replayed clips of Buttigieg’s speeches where he emphasized “inclusive transportation policies” and “climate justice.” Duffy called them distractions from the department’s actual mission. “Nobody cares about gender-neutral train stations when the trains don’t run on time,” he quipped.
The Facebook video of Duffy’s remarks went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and an outpouring of support. Comments ranged from praise for “finally telling the truth” to calls for Buttigieg’s resignation.
