California governor trolls Trump official’s dress code campaign with barefoot RFK Jr. photo.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom took a public swipe at Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s new air travel “civility” initiative on Monday, using a viral photo of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to ridicule the campaign’s premise.
Duffy, a former lumberjack and now a top Trump administration official, has launched an effort aimed at encouraging airline passengers to “restore courtesy and class to air travel” — suggesting that passengers should dress better and act with more consideration onboard.
Newsom responded by posting a picture on X (formerly Twitter) of Kennedy strolling barefoot down a plane aisle in jeans and a T-shirt, alongside a dismayed emoji — a clear jab at Duffy’s messaging. The photo, which first surfaced in late 2023, reignited online criticism of Kennedy’s hygiene and public behavior.
The post is the latest in a string of satirical attacks from the official Gavin Newsom Press Office account, which has become a steady source of memes targeting former President Donald Trump and members of his administration. Newsom has used the platform throughout the year to lampoon MAGA figures and their talking points.
Speaking earlier on Monday at Newark International Airport, Duffy made his case for more respectful travel habits.
“I think it’s important as we travel that we think about not just ourselves, not just our families, but we think about those who are around us,” Duffy said, adding: “Dressing with respect – whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better, which encourages us to maybe behave a little better.”
He also urged travelers to avoid pajamas, slippers, and going barefoot in public airport spaces. “Let’s all travel better together,” Duffy said. “Don’t take your shoes off and put your feet on… the chair ahead of you. Maybe don’t play your movie without headphones on. Just some simple things that can annoy the folks around you… We don’t have to do that. Just be cognizant and courteous.”
Duffy wrapped his remarks by appealing to Americans to keep holiday travel civil and free of political fights: “You guys can fight about politics when you get home for Thanksgiving… Let’s have this be the pre-run that is politics-free and very friendly.”
He echoed similar sentiments during a Fox Business interview last week, arguing: “The golden age in transportation truly begins with you, the passenger. If you just watch social media, you have brawls at the baggage claim, you have passengers berating gate agents. We have unruly passengers on airplanes. People dress up like they’re going to bed when they fly.”
Duffy’s commentary, however, has faced criticism for focusing on passengers’ attire while ignoring deeper frustrations with air travel — such as chronic delays, lost baggage, overbooked flights, tight seating, and poor food — that drive many travelers to prioritize comfort over appearance.
Newsom’s jab quickly lit up X with reactions. “Hey, relax, at least he’s wearing pants,” quipped commentator Keith Olbermann in a post defending Kennedy. Others weren’t so forgiving. “Oh God, if he just walked out of the Lavatory, I’m gonna be sick,” wrote one disgusted user.
The photo also sparked a wave of counter-memes, including a second image of Kennedy barefoot in an airport lounge, and unearthed clips of Duffy — from his reality TV days — lounging in socks and underwear in a hotel room. One user highlighted Republican Rep. Nancy Mace posing in pajamas at an airport, questioning the consistency of Duffy’s message.
