If you thought political feuds couldn't get any pettier, think again. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are now arguing about what people should wear on airplanes. Yes, really.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and California Governor Gavin Newsom Trade Barbs Over Airline Dress Codes and Flight Delays
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The Wardrobe Wars Begin
The spat kicked off when Newsom took to X over the weekend to slam Duffy's recent comments urging travelers to "dress up" when flying during the busy Thanksgiving season. But Newsom wasn't just critiquing fashion advice. His real beef was about policy.
"Sean Duffy eliminated fines for airlines that delay or cancel your flights," Newsom wrote, arguing that the regulatory changes made it "easier" for airlines to mess up people's travel plans. Instead of protecting passengers, Newsom suggested, Duffy's solution was telling people to "wear a nice dress on the plane."
Duffy Claps Back
Transportation Secretary Duffy wasn't having it. He quickly responded on X, calling Newsom's claims "not true." Then came the fashion burn: "Unlike your mask mandate, our attire recommendations don't impede on Americans' civil liberties," Duffy shot back, taking a clear swing at California's pandemic policies. And just to twist the knife a bit more, he added that travelers could still wear "skinny jeans" if they wanted to.
This latest exchange follows an earlier clash between the two over Commercial Driver's Licenses allegedly issued by California to undocumented workers.
Trump's Air Traffic Controller Bonuses
Meanwhile, in less contentious aviation news, President Donald Trump recently announced he'd be handing out $10,000 bonus checks to 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who kept showing up during the historic 42-day government shutdown. Duffy backed the move and assured workers they'd receive their paychecks within 24 to 48 hours once the government reopened.
Thanksgiving Travel Surge
All this political theater comes as the aviation industry prepares for one of its busiest periods. The American Automobile Association predicts over 81.83 million Americans will travel during Thanksgiving, with more than 6 million taking to the skies. That's potentially good news for carriers like American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL), especially after travel disruptions hammered the industry recently.
So whether you're wearing skinny jeans, a nice dress, or sweatpants, just make sure you get to the airport early. Because while politicians argue about fashion, those Thanksgiving flights are going to be packed.
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