Sean Duffy Called the Musicians Who Pulled Out of Trump’s Fair “Libtards” While His Daughter with Down Syndrome Stood on Stage Next to Him

07 Jul 2026, 11:18 by Jerome London · Thought Catalog

Andrew Harnik / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Updated 5 minutes ago, July 7, 2026

Sean Duffy has nine children with Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy, including 6-year-old Valentina, who was born with Down syndrome and was on stage with him when he said it. He refused to apologize. “I will not be lectured by the same people who want to abort babies with special need.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addresses the crowd at the Great American State Fair rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 24, 2026, flanked by family members on stage. Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images.

The word he used ends in a slur that has spent decades targeting people with intellectual disabilities. When the backlash hit, Duffy refused to apologize and told his critics they were the ones with the problem.

Valentina Duffy, daughter of Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos-Duffy, appears alongside her mother on Fox & Friends at Fox News Channel Studios in New York City on World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2024. Photo by John Lamparski / Getty Images.

Sean Duffy dropped the word while warming up the crowd at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, a multi-day America 250 event closely tied to President Trump. He was thanking the military band that filled in after several booked acts backed out, saying they were “way better than those libtards that canceled on us.”

Sean Duffy addresses the crowd at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., joined by his family on June 24, 2026. Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images.

The musicians he was mocking had pulled out over the event’s political ties. Country star Martina McBride said she had been told it was a nonpartisan celebration of all 50 states and called the presentation misleading. Bret Michaels cited growing divisiveness and safety concerns. The Commodores, Young MC, Morris Day & The Time, and Milli Vanilli also withdrew, with several saying they were never informed of the political nature of the event.

Sean Duffy holds his daughter Valentina in the crowd at the Great American State Fair kickoff rally on the National Mall on June 24, 2026, as family members look on nearby. Photo by Andrew Harnik / Getty Images.

Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida stayed on the bill, and military bands filled the gaps the night Duffy spoke.

“Libtard” fuses “liberal” with a slur long condemned for demeaning people with developmental disabilities. Duffy’s 6-year-old daughter Valentina, who was born in 2019 with Down syndrome, was standing on the stage with him.

He didn’t walk it back. Asked about it by HuffPost, he said: “I will not be lectured by the same people who want to abort babies with special needs,” adding that liberals should “spend time with these beautiful children, acknowledge their humanity, and while they’re at it, try loving their country more than they hate President Trump.”

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Andrew Harnik Getty Images News via Getty Images

Sean Duffy addresses the crowd at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., joined by his family on June 24, 2026. Photo by Chip Somodevilla Getty Images.