The Great American Road Trip: A Travesty in Six Parts

The Trump administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday has been marked by a series of puzzling events, including an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House and a car race through Washington. But none have been as peculiar as the six-part travel show featuring Sean Duffy and his family on a road trip across the country.

On its surface, The Great American Road Trip appears to be a worthy endeavor, aiming to “celebrate and share America’s story” while highlighting the nation’s tourist spots. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is less about showcasing America’s rich history and more about Sean Duffy’s family. The show awkwardly blends travelogue and reality TV, with the Duffys inserting themselves into famous American landscapes like unwanted guests in a national park.

As the Duffy family visits iconic sites such as the Liberty Bell and the Grand Canyon, it becomes apparent that the focus lies not on these historic landmarks but on their antics. We learn more about Sean and Rachel’s love story than about the Declaration of Independence, which is glossed over in favor of a conversation about their daughter being “a bit of a free spirit.” The producers’ attempt to make this episode more appealing is evident when they show photographs of the daughter sticking her tongue out at the camera.

The show’s meandering pace and lack of substance are compounded by the fact that it was initially supposed to air in June but has been delayed due to questions about its ethics. Despite the government’s claim that no taxpayer money was spent on creating the show, the sponsorship by companies like Boeing and Toyota raises concerns about conflicts of interest.

One striking aspect of this show is how out of touch it seems with the current state of America. With gas prices at an all-time high, Pete Buttigieg’s description of the project as “brutally out of touch” feels particularly apt. Meanwhile, the Duffys seem oblivious to these concerns, too busy inserting themselves into American landscapes like a bad tourist.

The show’s third episode, Wyoming and Montana: Winter in the Wild, is a prime example of this tone-deafness. Sean Duffy takes his family on a bison-watching expedition, where he attempts to draw a message about community from their observed behavior. However, when Roy, the tour guide, corrects him that they are actually watching bison, not buffalo, Duffy brushes it off with a comment about how “y’all learned something.” This moment encapsulates the show’s awkward and self-serving tone.

The final episode, Arizona: Family, Memories and the Road Ahead, is perhaps the most egregious example of this. While we learn nothing new about Arizona itself, we do get a glimpse into the Duffys’ marital life, including their 27th wedding anniversary. Rachel Campos-Duffy uses this opportunity to dish out some questionable relationship advice, which feels unhelpful and unsolicited.

The show’s ultimate failure lies in its inability to deliver on its promise of highlighting America’s rich history and culture. Instead, it serves as a self-serving attempt at reality TV that prioritizes the Duffys’ family dynamics over any meaningful exploration of American landmarks. As we reflect on this peculiar endeavor, we are left wondering what this says about the values and priorities of those involved in creating it.

The show’s tone-deafness is particularly striking given the current era of government agencies facing ethics scrutiny. This ill-conceived project serves as a stark reminder that our leaders’ actions have consequences. While it may not be a direct example of corruption, its sheer lack of sensitivity is a reflection of the administration’s detachment from reality.

As we bid farewell to this disastrous attempt at entertainment, one pressing question remains: what’s next? Will we see more government-sponsored reality TV shows featuring celebrities and politicians? Or will the Trump administration finally acknowledge its failures in this area? Only time will tell.