JD Vance weight loss became a light moment during the vice president’s return to the White House press room on Thursday, his first time leading a briefing since July 23 and the first since former press secretary Karoline Leavitt departed last month. He also fielded questions on the conflict with Iran, energy prices, inflation, and Republican strategy heading into the midterms.
Asked by a reporter about his slimmer appearance, Vice President JD Vance joked that if one of the first questions at a White House news conference is about how much weight he has lost, then he must have been “very fat” to start.
JD Vance weight loss linked to RFK Jr. guidance
Vance said he began his weight loss effort around Lent in February after seeking advice from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He recounted calling Kennedy to say he planned to give up sugar. According to Vance, Kennedy urged a stricter approach, steering him toward a regimen high in protein that, in Vance’s telling, also included a lot of sauerkraut.
Vance quipped that anyone who wants to shed pounds should “call Bobby Kennedy,” but those who want to enjoy their meals should not.
In a separate interview earlier this year, Kennedy described following a carnivore diet. Such plans focus on animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs, and are often criticized by proponents of plant-based eating who favor vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes.
Vance has previously said the approach helped him reduce visceral fat, the internal fat associated with higher cardiovascular risk. He also said he experienced clearer thinking and reported losing 20 pounds in 20 days after changing his diet, while noting some effects could be attributable to a placebo response.