‘Get your blood flowing’: Transportation Secretary takes off tie for fitness showdown with RFK Jr, but gets beaten by this unexpected person

Travelers at Ronald Reagan National Airport got a surprise show on Monday when two cabinet members started doing pull-ups. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy competed to see who could do more reps while announcing a major funding plan.

The two officials were at the airport to talk about a $1 billion investment. According to the NY Post, the money will be used to make airports across America more welcoming for families, healthier, and better for mothers who need to breastfeed.

Duffy took off his tie and jacket before doing his set of pull-ups. He told reporters he wasn’t worried about people working out and sweating at airports. “But if you do a few good pull-ups, get your blood flowing, I think that’s positive. This is not like go to the gym, sweat and get on an airplane,” he said.

The pull-up battle had some surprising winners

Fitness expert Dr. Paul Saladino won the contest with 21 pull-ups. Kennedy came in second with 20 pull-ups at age 71. Duffy managed 10 pull-ups, but his own daughter beat him by doing 13.

The “Make Travel Family Friendly Again” program will use the $1 billion that Congress already approved. Duffy said the money will go toward expanding play areas for children, adding nursing pods for mothers, and possibly creating workout spaces where people can do pull-ups or step-ups. Travel experiences can be unpredictable, as shown when an Uber driver made a shocking detour.

The officials stood in front of a Farmer’s Fridge machine that sells salads and healthy food. Kennedy, who says he flies about 250 days each year, complained that airports are filled with processed foods and sugary snacks. “I can tell you that this is where healthy diets go to die,” he said.

Influencer Isabel Brown talked about the challenges mothers face when breastfeeding at airports. She said many airports don’t have clean or well-marked nursing rooms, even though the law requires them. “It can be incredibly disheartening to see the rolled eyes and visible annoyance and anguish when we sit down with our babies on an airplane seat,” she said.

Duffy said his team wants public feedback on how to improve airports. As travelers navigate various expenses, some are learning about costly street parking technology in NYC. He admitted he doesn’t have a plan yet to lower food prices at airports, but wants to focus on providing healthier options for travelers.