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By Jordan King
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised question marks about President Donald Trump's diet during an interview.
Responding to a question from podcaster Katie Miller about who has "the most unhinged eating habits," Kennedy Jr. named Trump, adding: "I don’t know how he’s alive."
"The interesting thing about the president is that he eats really bad food, which is McDonald’s and then you know KFC and Diet Coke, but he has the constitution of a deity, I don’t know how he’s alive, but he is," Kennedy Jr. said on The Katie Miller Podcast in an episode released on Tuesday.
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But Kennedy Jr. also went on to say that Trump only has these eating habits when is "on the road." He added that the president "does actually eat pretty good food usually" and that "he’s got incredible health."
Newsweek has contacted the White House, via email outside of normal working hours, for comment.
Why It Matters
The health of presidential candidates and incumbents remains a frequent topic of debate.
At 79, Trump is the oldest man to assume the presidency, and his age has fueled persistent questions about his stamina.
During the 2024 election cycle, Trump frequently criticized his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, on similar grounds—any sign of infirmity among presidents has become a flashpoint for both supporters and critics.
What To Know
When Miller asked Kennedy Jr. who has "the most unhinged eating habits," he answered: "The president."
Kennedy Jr. told Miller: “[Trump] says that the only time he eats junk food is when he’s on the road and he wants to eat food from big corporations because he trusts it and he doesn’t want to get sick while he’s on the road. But when he’s at Mar-a-Lago, or at the White House, he is eating really good food."
"So if you travel with him you get this idea that he’s just pumping himself full of poison all day long and you don’t know how he’s walking around, much less being the most energetic person any of us have ever met," Kennedy Jr. said. "I think he does actually eat pretty good food usually, he’s got incredible health."
Seemingly referring to Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kennedy Jr. said: "Dr. Oz looked at [Trump’s] medical records and said he’s got the highest testosterone levels that he’s ever seen for an individual over 70 years old—I know the president will be happy that I repeat that."
Testosterone levels peak during adolescence and early adulthood. Men between the ages of 70 and 79 generally have testosterone levels from 156 to 819 nanograms per deciliter, decreasing from around 252 to 916 nanograms per deciliter for men aged 40 to 49, according to clinical laboratory firm LabCorp.
Trump himself has addressed questions about his health multiple times.
On January 2, Trump wrote on Truth Social that White House doctors reported he was in "PERFECT HEALTH," and said he had "ACED" his cognitive tests for the third consecutive time. Trump added: "I strongly believe that anyone running for president, or vice president, should be mandatorily forced to take a strong, meaningful, and proven cognitive examination. Our great country cannot be run by 'STUPID' or INCOMPETENT PEOPLE!"
He has attributed bruising and discoloration on his hands—widely discussed on social media—to a daily aspirin regimen and minor injuries sustained during public events. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said "I'm a little superstitious" about changing his medication, adding, "I want nice, thin blood pouring through my heart." Trump told the WSJ that he sometimes uses makeup to cover minor nicks, stating: "It’s easy to put on, takes about 10 seconds."
Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Barbabella, recently described Trump as being in "excellent overall health," noting a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency—described as a benign and common condition—as well as normal cardiovascular findings following a CT scan. The White House also cited a Mayo Clinic analysis putting Trump’s cardiac age at 65, considerably younger than his chronological age.
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What People Are Saying
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Newsweek: "President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history. His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day."
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told The Wall Street Journal of Trump: "As a clinician, you look for clues in people, even if they’re not your patient, and he is just with it on some fairly complex topics."
What Happens Next
Scrutiny of Trump’s health, diet, and personal habits is expected to persist as he continues his term in office and as the 2028 presidential race looms. Public interest in the health of America’s senior leaders shows no sign of waning, with critics and supporters alike monitoring official disclosures and public appearances for signs of peak performance or possible weakness. The impact of diet and lifestyle on presidential stamina will likely remain a talking point throughout future election cycles.
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