Secretary of State Marco Rubio jokingly defended his preference for Pop-Tarts during a Tuesday podcast appearance, while also criticizing a reported diet of red meat and fermented vegetables advocated by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In separate comments, Rubio described a prior attempt at the keto diet as leaving him irritable and difficult to engage with professionally.
During an interview on The Katie Miller Podcast, Rubio and his wife, Jeanette Rubio, discussed their eating habits in the context of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. The exchange highlighted differing views on dietary health, with Rubio’s wife pushing back on his claims about moderation.
Rubio’s Pop-Tarts defense and critique of Kennedy’s diet
Rubio, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, was asked about Kennedy’s reported diet of sauerkraut and meat, which Rubio described as impractical for travel. “This is a crazy diet,” he said. “This is a diet that consists of eating sauerkraut and meat. Now you understand, like, this is not a sustainable thing ... He has to travel with coolers of sauerkraut! I’m not going to travel the world with a cooler full of sauerkraut. It’s ridiculous. I can’t do it.”
Rubio clarified that he supported the MAHA movement’s goals but joked about his own dietary choices. “The Pop-Tart is one of the great American innovations in the history of the world, if you think about it,” he said. “It comes in this beautiful foil package.” His wife interjected, stating, “He eats all the things you should not be eating. Like every single thing.” Rubio responded, “No, I don’t eat Pop-Tarts every day.”
Rubio’s keto diet experience
In a separate comment on the same podcast, Rubio discussed his past attempt at the keto diet, which he said left him irritable and difficult to engage with professionally. “I did, at one time, maybe four, five years ago, I tried this thing called keto,” he said. “And you just eat all this protein. And so you go through this massive withdrawal from sugar and carbohydrates. For the first 72 hours, it was a near psychotic event for me.”
Rubio’s remarks came amid broader discussions about dietary trends and public health initiatives, including Kennedy’s MAHA movement, which promotes red meat and fermented foods as part of a health-focused lifestyle. The comments also surfaced as Rubio remains a prominent figure in Republican politics, with recent polling showing him competitive in potential 2028 presidential primary matchups.
Neither Rubio’s office nor representatives for Mars Inc., the manufacturer of Pop-Tarts, responded to requests for additional comment.