Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently described the prevalence of fast food during his travels with President Donald Trump. Speaking on the “Net Positive” podcast released Wednesday, August 12, Kennedy remarked that the president’s plane is often stocked with “boxes and boxes” of McDonald’s.
When asked by podcast host John Crist if he had attempted to influence the president’s eating habits, Kennedy clarified that he avoids being a “scold.” He explained that while Trump consumes high-quality, locally sourced, and fresh produce at his Mar-a-Lago residence and the White House, his travel diet shifts significantly due to a fear of food poisoning.
Kennedy noted that the president prefers national chains while on the road to ensure consistency. This is not the first time the HHS secretary has addressed the president’s nutritional choices; earlier this year, he publicly questioned how the president maintains his health given his documented fondness for soda and fast food.
For his own part, Kennedy has garnered attention for a personal diet focused on grass-fed meats and fermented foods, which he credits for a 20-pound weight loss over a 30-day period. His personal health philosophy has become a cornerstone of the broader “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement.
The MAHA initiative has since become a central pillar of the Trump administration’s health policy. Shortly after his 2025 inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, tasked with reducing chronic disease rates among both children and adults.
While many medical professionals and health experts support the movement’s emphasis on increasing the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, other aspects of the platform remain contentious. Critics have specifically pushed back against MAHA’s proposals to alter national vaccine recommendations and its claims regarding the origins of autism.
The administration continues to balance these controversial policy goals with its broader public health objectives. As the commission moves forward, the intersection of the president’s personal habits and the administration’s official health agenda remains a subject of ongoing public and professional discourse.
This report includes contributions from Kathryn Palmer, with reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr.
“He eats really good food most of the time, but when he’s traveling, he likes to eat food from national chains because he’s scared of getting food poisoning.”
Kennedy has credited that diet for helping him lose 20 pounds in 30 days.
The movement is a broad one, concerned in part with foods that use artificial dyes or are ultra-processed foods.
Contributing: Kathryn Palmer