Vice President JD Vance on Thursday revealed that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. provided dietary advice that contributed to his recent weight loss, during his first White House press briefing since July.
Vance, who led the briefing in the White House press room, also discussed crackdowns on fraud in Michigan’s trucking industry, Venezuela’s oil deal, and energy market policies. The briefing marked his third as vice president and the first since former press secretary Karoline Leavitt departed in July.
During the session, a reporter asked Vance about his weight loss over the past few months. Vance responded by crediting Kennedy, who he said advised him to adopt a high-protein diet with a significant amount of sauerkraut. "Bobby Kennedy says, 'No, no, no, no, I've got something that's way better than that and way more intense.' And basically ... I eat a lot of high protein stuff, and I eat a lot of sauerkraut," Vance said. He added, "if that was Fat Tuesday, Fat Wednesday never came."
Kennedy, who has previously discussed his own carnivore diet in interviews, has advocated for restrictive dietary approaches that exclude plant-based foods. In a January interview with USA Today’s "The Excerpt" podcast, Kennedy described his diet as consisting solely of animal products such as meat, dairy, and eggs. His dietary recommendations have drawn criticism from nutrition experts who endorse more balanced, plant-inclusive eating patterns.
Vance’s remarks came as he addressed a range of policy topics, including Republican messaging ahead of the midterm elections, inflation, and oil and gas prices. He also fielded questions about the Iran conflict and broader geopolitical concerns. The briefing followed his participation in discussions regarding energy market stability and economic pressures facing American consumers.
The vice president’s comments on diet and weight loss were met with lighthearted reactions from reporters, though the exchange did not detract from the substantive policy discussions that followed. Vance concluded the briefing by emphasizing the administration’s focus on fraud prevention in critical industries and energy security, framing these as priorities for the remainder of the year.