Duffy said he didn’t exactly set out to lead the Department of Transportation, but was sure that he “wanted to work for the president”

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Sean Duffy has been leading the Department of Transportation for over a year, but he wasn’t always vying for the role.

In a conversation with Katie Miller on The Katie Miller Podcast, Duffy said he didn’t have a particular position in mind when joining President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, but wanted to help in whatever capacity he could.

Duffy told Miller on the Tuesday, Sept. 1, episode that he “didn’t” know he wanted to helm the Department of Transportation, but was sure that he “wanted to work for the president.”

Duffy spoke enthusiastically about his admiration for Trump, calling him “the most amazing man, and the most amazing president.” Working alongside Trump, he said, was a chance to serve someone with a distinctive way of thinking.

“I thought it would be just— it would be a blessing to work with someone that, as is as unique of a mind as his,” Duffy, 54, continued. “And he doesn’t disappoint.”

His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, joined him on the episode, where she offered a more blunt explanation for how he landed at the DOT. When Miller asked whether Sean had pushed Trump to give him the job, Rachel said there was little lobbying involved.

“No, I think Sean answered that,” Rachel, 54, said. “He said he wanted to, he wanted to serve the president in any way. He ended up in Transportation because that was all that’s left.”

Sean, however, said Trump presented the role at the department as something far more significant than simply the position that happened to be available.

According to Sean, Trump told him that if he were not president, the DOT would be the department he would choose for himself.

“But the president told me, and I believe this with him. He said, ‘If I wasn’t the president, I would pick the Department of Transportation of any department. It’s the best department. And I’m going to give it to you,’ ” he said.

Sean said Trump’s interest in the department stemmed from his focus on construction and infrastructure.

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“Because he’s a builder and he, whether it’s roads and bridges, like, he’s talking about concrete and bridges and designs and colors,” Sean said. “And he loves aviation so that —we have a president who cares about the infrastructure of America.”

He contrasted Trump’s interest with what he described as a lack of attention from previous presidents. “Usually presidents don’t give a s—, a darn,” he said.

Rachel then recalled one final instruction Trump gave her husband when he took the job: “He did say, ‘Don’t eff it up.’ ”

Duffy agreed, echoing, “Don’t eff it up.”