Full Breakdown
JD Vance Credits RFK Jr. for Recent Weight Loss
9/4/2026, 9:51:02 PM
Core Event
On Thursday, September 3 the White House held its first press briefing since former press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s departure. Vice President JD Vance answered a question about his slimmer appearance and said he had followed a high-protein, sauerkraut-heavy regimen suggested by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Vance said the diet helped him shed weight he had previously carried.
Background & Context
The briefing was the first time the vice president led a White House press conference after the July 23 scheduled briefing and after Leavitt left the role. Topics included the Iran conflict, energy prices and midterm election messaging before the discussion turned to Vance’s personal health routine.
Data & Statistics
- Vance has publicly noted a 30-pound reduction in body weight since his 2022 Ohio Senate campaign.
- Kennedy Jr. has claimed his own “carnivore” approach cut 40 % of his visceral fat within a month.
- No independent medical verification of the weight loss has been provided.
Official Statements & Responses
Vance told reporters that, as a “devout Christian,” he intended to give up sugar for Lent. He called Kennedy Jr. for advice and received the recommendation to replace sugar with a regimen centered on meat and fermented foods. Vance added that he also planned to limit his social-media use during Lent, saying he would ask his staff to “tweet something for me” if needed. He concluded with a light-hearted admonition: those who want to lose weight should “call Bobby Kennedy,” while those who want to “enjoy what you eat” should not.
Criticism & Opposition
Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the diet as “crazy” and “not sustainable,” joking that he could not travel with “coolers of sauerkraut.” His remarks reflect skepticism from at least one senior Republican official about the practicality of the regimen.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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. And let's just say that if that was Fat Tuesday, Fat Wednesday never came,” — JD Vance, Vice President of the United States
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact amount of weight Vance has lost: the Daily Mail cites a 30-pound drop, while other outlets report only that he “looked slimmer.” No medical records or third-party measurements have been released to confirm either claim. While Kennedy Jr. promotes a “carnivore” diet, the scientific community’s consensus on its long-term health effects remains unsettled, leaving a gap in expert analysis of Vance’s regimen.
