In a recent episode of the reality show “The Great American Road Trip,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy expressed concerns about Harvard University instilling ideas that contradict Catholic values in students. He also voiced worries about whether his daughter should attend the prestigious Ivy League school.
According to a report by Newsweek on Thursday, the episode titled “Boston: University Dreams and the Journey Home” focused on Duffy’s 18-year-old daughter, Paloma, and her decision between Harvard University and Boston College.
Duffy and his wife initially had reservations about their daughter attending Harvard due to concerns about religious and moral values.
During the show, Duffy mentioned their professionalized method of corroding the minds of young girls. He criticized elite universities like Harvard for not providing a balanced and diverse political perspective for students.
He told his daughter, “If I send you there, I feel like the result is… they’ve professionalized how to erode the minds of excellent young girls like you. I think…”
Duffy emphasized that he doesn’t expect his daughter to adopt his political views but rather hopes she will be exposed to different perspectives and make her own judgments. He questioned the ability of schools like Harvard to offer a comprehensive and balanced viewpoint.
However, Paloma didn’t entirely agree with her father’s views. She shared that she had previously attended a highly conservative high school and grew up in an “extremely conservative family,” believing that studying in a more liberal and open environment could provide her with a more holistic education.
Duffy and his wife have a total of nine children. His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, is a Fox News host and a former reality TV star.
Duffy resigned from his congressional position in 2019 before the birth of their youngest daughter, who was born with Down syndrome and a heart condition. He stated at the time that his family needed him to dedicate more time and energy.
The Duffy family is Catholic, and both Sean and Rachel frequently discuss their Catholic faith and conservative values publicly.
Duffy’s remarks sparked mixed reactions online. Conservative radio host Jesse Kelly supported Duffy, praising his focus on his daughter’s growth rather than the social prestige of attending an Ivy League school.
Kelly wrote on X platform, “Sounds like this Sean Duffy is a man who loves his daughter more than being able to brag to friends, ‘my daughter got into Harvard.'”
Conservative Catholic media outlet LifeSiteNews shared the video clip, highlighting the ways in which Harvard, the school, has “professionalized” the erosion of young girls’ excellence.
Progressive commentary media The Tennessee Holler criticized Duffy’s statements for being contradictory, pointing out that he wants his daughter to “make her own choices” but also opposes her attending Harvard.
“The Great American Road Trip” is a nationwide official travel and cultural promotion activity initiated by the Department of Transportation to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States (America250). The program aims to encourage people to travel by car, explore national parks, historical landmarks, and small towns across the country.
Duffy announced plans for filming “The Great American Road Trip” reality show back in May 2025. The program mainly documents the experiences of Duffy, his wife, and their children traveling across the United States.