The MTV reality star who was caught doing a striptease in a hotel room is now the new leader of NASA.
President Donald Trump named Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the interim head of NASA on Wednesday, calling him a ‘fantastic leader.’
Duffy, 53, said he was ‘honored to accept this mission’ as he steps into one of the highest-profile science roles in government.
Long before entering politics, Duffy gained national attention as a cast member on MTV’s The Real World and Road Rules.
In his 20s, he was filmed performing a risqué striptease in a hotel room during one of the network’s reality spin-offs, a moment that recently resurfaced online.
Despite the resurfaced footage and suggestive behavior, the incident has not appeared to dent Duffy’s standing within the White House.
‘Sean is doing a TREMENDOUS job in handling our Country´s Transportation Affairs … He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Duffy now replaces Janet Petro, who had been serving as acting NASA administrator since January, and will continue with his duties at the Department of Transportation.
Sean Duffy, 53, known for his appearance on several MTV reality shows before entering politics, said he was ‘honored to accept this mission’
A member of the Republican Party, Duffy served as the US representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019 and became US Secretary of Transportation in January
A father of nine, Duffy is married to Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, whom he met while filming the reality series Road Rules: All Stars in 1998.
The Republican has served as the US Representative for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2019 and was appointed US Secretary of Transportation in January.
Though firmly entrenched in public service today, Duffy’s reality TV roots occasionally resurface.
In February, a video reemerged showing a 20-something Duffy playfully performing a striptease in a hotel room during his MTV days.
The clip cuts to Real World cast member Montana McGlynn lying on a bed and fiddling with her shirt as Duffy dances over. She then appears to lick his nipple on camera.
‘We were in our early 20s and going through a unique and exciting experience,’ McGlynn said, ‘so I think we were all just looking to have fun and explore what it meant to be young.’
Despite the risqué footage, Duffy’s appointment drew praise from key figures.
Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and original nominee for NASA administrator, was dropped by Trump after what he called a ‘review’ of Isaacman’s political background.
According to the president, Isaacman was ‘a blue-blooded Democrat’ who had ‘never contributed to a Republican before.’
A video of a 20-something Duffy during his forgotten reality TV days performing a raunchy striptease in a hotel room appeared in resurfaced in February
Duffy met his wife Rachel when they were co-stars on the MTV reality show ‘Road Rules: All Stars’ in 1998
However, Isaacman called the decision to tap Duffy ‘a great move’ and wished him well.
As NASA administrator, Duffy will oversee the agency’s resources and programs, steer its long-term goals, and serve as the president’s top space science advisor. The role also involves building political support for NASA’s missions and shaping its direction for the future.
The timing of Duffy’s new role is critical as NASA is facing major cuts and internal turmoil, with more than 2,100 senior-ranking employees expected to exit as part of a sweeping effort to downsize the agency.
Duffy, however, is about to lose many NASA employees just as he starts the new position, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.
Documents suggested that these individuals are taking the Deferred Resignation Program, a federal government initiative that allows eligible employees to resign with continued pay and benefits.
Nearly 85 percent of those leaving are ‘serving in mission areas like science or human space flight, with the rest performing mission support roles like IT, facilities management, or finance,’ Politico noted.
Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, said: ‘You’re losing the managerial and core technical expertise of the agency. What’s the strategy and what do we hope to achieve here?’
The cuts come in response to NASA’s FY 2026 Budget Request, released in May, which projects spending just under $18.9 billion, a nearly 24 percent drop from this year’s $24.8 billion budget.
NASA has not commented on the documents, only saying that it ‘remains committed to our mission as we work within a more prioritized budget.
‘We are working closely with the administration to ensure that America continues to lead the way in space exploration, advancing progress on key goals including the Moon and Mars.’
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