Trump Official Booed Amid Heated High-Speed Rail Announcement

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was booed during a news conference in California regarding the state’s high-speed rail project.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the California High-Speed Rail Authority via email for comment.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump has criticized the high-speed rail and questioned the money the project has taken up and its timeline. While speaking to reporters this month, Trump said in part, “The train that’s being built between Los Angeles and San Francisco is the worst-managed project I think I’ve ever seen.

“It is the worst thing, and we’re going to start an investigation into that because it is not possible…it’s impossible that something could cost that much. And now it’s not even going to San Francisco and it’s not going to Los Angeles. They’ve made it much shorter,” Trump added.

Duffy’s brief tenure with the DOT has been immediately marked by aviation disasters, most notably the fatal midair collision involving a military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet.

Sean Duffy hosts seen on Fox Business Network Studios on October 31, 2024, in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

What To Know

Local officials announced an investigation into the rail in a news conference on Thursday and were met with fierce backlash from protesters. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley, protestors could be heard chanting while he was speaking. Republican Congressman Vince Fong also spoke at the news conference and protesters could be heard.

Critics of the rail call it an “embarrassment” to the state and a “disregard” for taxpayer dollars.

California GOP Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo has also floated a bill that would take annual funding allocated to the construction of the high-speed rail and divert it to new water infrastructure and wildfire prevention projects.

Today I joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to announce an investigation into CA High-Speed Rail, which could claw back $4.3 billion in federal funds. Amusingly, a few protestors showed up in support of the boondoggle.

The High-Speed Rail disaster is the worst… pic.twitter.com/0sHYSVjCJc

— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) February 20, 2025

During the news conference, Duffy specifically called out the protesters saying, “I think they were chanting ‘Build the rail’? It’s been 17 years and $16 billion and no rail has been built. So, if you want to go protest somewhere, and if you want to shout at someone, go to the governor’s mansion. Go talk to Democrats in the legislature who have brought us this crappy project.”

Over a decade and $16B of taxpayer dollars wasted with zero results on this rail project. If protestors want to shout at someone, they should direct their outrage at Governor Newsom and complicit Democrats who have enabled this fraud and waste for a train to nowhere. @USDOT will… pic.twitter.com/KsXKhYczll

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 20, 2025

What People Are Saying

Secretary Duffy in a post on X on Thursday: “The questions these angry protestors should be asking are:
– Who didn’t build this rail?
– Which consultant made money off of it?
– Which politician’s husband got rich off of this project?”

Chris D. Jackson, a Tennessee Democrat, on X on Thursday:“🚨 NEW: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went to California today, aiming for a photo op against a state-federal high-speed rail project. Instead, he was drowned out by massive protests—boos echoing as crowds rallied for the project. Maybe he should focus on keeping planes in the sky instead of staging propaganda for the Dear Leader.”

Congressman Vince Fong, a California Republican, on X on Thursday: “For us in the Central Valley, we have had a first hand front row seat to the mismanagement and failures of the California High Speed Rail Authority. What is happening now is not what was told to Californians in 2008. It’s a complete bait and switch. This failed project needs to stop and we need to focus on more pressing priorities in our region – water storage, forest management, rural roads and supply chain infrastructure.”

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri told Newsweek via email on Thursday: “We welcome this investigation and the opportunity to work with our federal partners. With multiple independent federal and state audits completed, every dollar is accounted for, and we stand by the progress and impact of this project. California’s high-speed rail is 171 miles under active construction, with over 50 major structures completed, 14,700 jobs created, and more than 880 small businesses engaged. This investment has already generated $22 billion in economic impact, primarily benefiting the Central Valley.”