HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mocked Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s (R-West Virginia) weight and suggested that he conduct public weigh-ins.
At a press conference, Kennedy recalled meeting Morrisey during the transition to the second Trump administration.
“The first time I saw him, I said, ‘You look like you ate Gov. Morrisey,'” he admitted. “And – and there was a lot of discussion about getting healthy again.
“And I’m delighted that he’s asked me to be his personal trainer. And I’m going to put him on a very strict regimen, and we’ll put him on a carnivore diet.
“We’re going to make him do it — raise your hand if you want Gov. Morrisey to hold a public weigh-in once a month. When he has lost 30 pounds, I plan to return to [West Virginia] and celebrate with him at a public weigh-in.
“You’re welcome, Denise,” the HHS Secretary said, referring to Morrisey’s wife, Denise Morris.
The joint event in Martinsburg, West Virginia, was to promote Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda, which he promoted on X in September alongside reality TV star Amber Rose. He is working to rid the American food supply of additives, dyes, and other harmful substances.
In a statement on the US Department of Health and Human Services website, Kennedy urged “the 24 states pushing MAHA bills to clean up our food system, improve school lunches, submit SNAP waivers, and promote patient choice.”
“This state leadership adds leverage to the Trump administration’s drive to Make America Healthy Again,” according to him. “I urge every governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and file a waiver with the USDA to remove soda from SNAP.
If we can agree on one thing, it should be to end taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for low-income children. I look forward to inviting every governor who submits a waiver to join me in celebrating at the White House this fall.”
West Virginia’s governor recently signed legislation that would prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from purchasing soda with their benefits.
Morrisey signed House Bill 2354 into law on March 24, prohibiting the use of harmful food dyes in school lunches and the sale of unhealthy foods in West Virginia.
The legislation also prohibits their use as an ingredient in any meal served in a school nutrition program beginning August 1, 2025.
“West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there’s no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission,” Morrisey told the crowd.
“By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we’re taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges,” he told reporters. “Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, and the entire Trump Administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia.”
