Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Fox & Friends for the Biden administration’s decision two years ago to block the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger. The comments, shared in a post on X, come as Spirit Airlines — headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida — ceased operations earlier this week.
The remarks have drawn attention online, with users divided over the role of the blocked merger versus other factors such as fuel prices and the airline’s financial challenges.
In the clip, Duffy says the Biden administration — pushed by Elizabeth Warren and others — let ideology get in the way instead of doing what made sense for the airlines. He claims blocking the JetBlue-Spirit merger hurt customers and weakened both companies. The video shows him speaking directly to the camera from the Fox & Friends studio, with on-screen graphics highlighting the 2024 blocked merger and Spirit’s shutdown.
He emphasizes that “Americans Are Paying the Price” due to those decisions, contrasting them with other factors like the Iran war. On-screen graphics during the segment state that the fallout, including Spirit’s closure, left 17,000 without jobs.
Online Responses to Secretary Duffy’s Criticism
Supporters of Duffy’s view praised him for highlighting the issue. One commenter wrote: “Thank you @SecDuffy for calling it for what it really is… Shame on those 2 clown’s.”
Critics, however, disputed his claims and pointed to other causes. One user responded: “You do know Spirit said fuel prices and liquidity killed them, right? Not ‘woke ideology.’ They had years of losses, two bankruptcies, failed rescue talks, and jet fuel costs spiking.”
Another added: “The republican judge was the one who blocked the merger. The CEO of Spirit said the bankruptcy was due to the Iran war… Screw you, Duffy!”
Others questioned the focus, with one writing: “Sean Duffy, you are a true idiot. Focus on your job today. An anti-competitive merger decision two years ago is OLD NEWS.”
The conversation is now part of a larger discussion about the factors behind Spirit Airlines’ closure and the aftermath of the failed merger attempt. As the conversation continues online and in Washington, it reveals the existing controversies surrounding transport policies from the past administration.
