Tampa International Airport made headlines for a lengthy announcement saying “it’s time to ban pajamas” at the airport. “We’ve seen enough. We’ve had enough,” the statement read. “After successfully banning Crocs and giving everyone the amazing opportunity to experience the world’s first Crocs-free airport, it’s time to take on an even larger crisis,” the airport said. “Pajamas. At. The. Airport. In the middle of the day. We know this decision could be disruptive to someone in your life. It’s time to have a difficult conversation with them. You can do this. We (and Phoebe) believe in you. The madness stops today. The movement starts now,” the statement continued. “Help Tampa International Airport become the world’s first Crocs-free and pajama-free airport. Do your part. Say no to pajamas at TPA,” the airport said. Although many people took that statement seriously, it was just a joke. Props to whoever runs the airport social media page for generating buzz (the post has garnered over 8 million views). pic.twitter.com/mjHyM5KZkG — Tampa International Airport (@FlyTPA) February 26, 2026 PEOPLE shared further: X users had a mixed response to the social media post, with some asking for details on how the alleged ban would be implemented. One commenter asked if sweat pants would be “considered pajamas.” Tampa International Airport said that the post was a joke in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “Tampa International Airport regularly shares lighthearted, satirical social media content as part of our ongoing effort to engage with our followers,” the statement reads. “Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates. We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor,” the airport continued. The airport’s account has a history of trolling its followers with online gags. Check out some of the reactions below: Make air travel less miserable before you ask people to be less comfortable. — Angela McArdle (@RealAngelaMc) February 26, 2026 Who gives a shit what other people choose to wear on shitty, uncomfortable, over priced flights? — Champagne Joshi (@JoshWalkos) February 26, 2026 I can’t take anyone seriously who wears Crocs. — Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) February 26, 2026 So what happens if you fly into Tampa in PJs? — Blanket Dog (@theblanketdog) February 26, 2026 Y’all may need to focus on more important things than people wearing pajamas and crocs. With the prices, people are paying for travel they should be able to wear whatever they want. — Luis (@DontQuoteMe00) February 26, 2026 Is this a serious post? God I hope so. — Michael Flynn Jr (@realmflynnJR) February 26, 2026 WTH is wrong with Crocs? Seriously! With the prior INSANE rules of removing shoes, in FL and other beach areas, Crocs were like flip flops; easy to get through security — Luce Wood (@wood_luce) February 26, 2026 Perhaps Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy provided the inspiration for this satirical post. “Dressing with some respect, whether it’s a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave all a little better. Let’s try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport,” Duffy said during the busy Thanksgiving travel season. Footage below: SEC. DUFFY: "Dressing with some respect, whether it's a pair of jeans & a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave all a little better. Let's try not to wear slippers & pajamas as we come to the airport." pic.twitter.com/Pmw63k0amx — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 24, 2025 More from the Associated Press: Beau Zimmer, an airport spokesperson, told The Associated Press the post was part of the airport’s longstanding social media persona — a tongue-in-cheek voice it has cultivated since its early days on Twitter, before the platform rebranded as X. The account has attracted a loyal global following, he said. “Our regular social media followers just eat this stuff up,” Zimmer said. “But obviously this is all in fun, and we encourage our travelers to be comfortable.” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reacted to the post with a GIF of actor John Krasinski from the TV show “The Office” looking into the camera and saying, “Yes!” Duffy has been encouraging passengers to dress more formally while flying, part of a civility campaign he launched last November — called “the Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.” The Transportation Department said the campaign was “intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel.” The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke. “Today’s post about ‘banning’ pajamas was another playful nod to day-of-travel fashion debates,” it said. “We encourage our passengers to travel comfortably and appreciate our loyal followers who enjoy the online humor.” Zimmer said the airport’s online personality has been around for at least a decade. In the earlier days of what was then Twitter, a young intern started posting light-hearted jokes, like poking fun at rival sports teams and fans, “and it really took off.” More below: