Camilla Jessen
From towel-clad hotel antics to leading America’s space agency.
In a move that has raised eyebrows and fueled internet disbelief, Donald Trump has appointed Real World: Boston alum Sean Duffy as interim head of NASA.
Known to many for his towel-clad hotel dance in the late ’90s, Duffy is now stepping into one of the most high-profile roles in U.S. space policy.
The Adult Dance Performance That Went Viral
Long before stepping into public office, Duffy was best known for his stint on MTV’s The Real World.
One particularly infamous moment showed him in a hotel room, barely dressed, performing an adult dance — an act that included, according to Newsner reports, a moment where his nipple was licked on camera.
The footage resurfaced earlier this year, but it hasn’t derailed his political ambitions.
Trump’s Endorsement on Truth Social
Trump announced the appointment via Truth Social, describing Duffy as “TREMENDOUS” in his work on transportation.
The post praised Duffy for modernizing air traffic control and improving infrastructure, before concluding:
“He will be a fantastic leader of the ever more important Space Agency, even if only for a short period of time.”
Duffy Accepts “Mission” with a Tweet
Duffy, now 53 and father of nine, celebrated the announcement with a space-themed tweet:
“Honored to accept this mission. Time to take over space. Let’s launch.”
He and his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, also an MTV alum, have built a high-profile conservative media presence over the years.
From Ashland County to Capitol Hill
Duffy’s political path began in 2002 as a district attorney in Wisconsin.
He later served as a U.S. congressman for nearly a decade and was appointed Secretary of Transportation earlier this year.
Despite his unconventional origins, he’s steadily climbed the Republican ranks.
Why Jared Isaacman Was Passed Over
Trump reportedly rejected the initial nominee, billionaire SpaceX pilot Jared Isaacman, citing his close ties to Elon Musk.
“A blue-blooded Democrat,” Trump called him, arguing it would be “inappropriate” for someone so aligned with Musk’s business interests to run the agency.
A Castmate’s Take on the Past
Montana McGlynn, Duffy’s former Real World castmate, defended the infamous footage in an interview with The Daily Mail.
“We were in our early 20s and going through a unique and exciting experience,” she said.
“He always said he’d hold public office.” As it turns out, she was right.
