'Fat Wednesday never came': Vance recounts unexpected RFK Jr moment

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance turned a question about his recent weight loss into a humorous story about health advice from Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, or also known as Bobby Kennedy. 

Kennedy's suggestion involved eating high-protein foods and plenty of sauerkraut, replacing Vance's original plan to give up sugar.

The exchange came on Thursday, September 3, during Vance's first White House press briefing since Karoline Leavitt left her press secretary role.

JD Vance turns weight question into joke

When a reporter asked how much sauerkraut he eats after losing significant weight, Vance joked about what the question implied.

"Oh my lord!" Vance said. "Okay, so when you're the vice president of the United States, and one of the first questions at a press conference at the White House is how much weight you've lost. You must have gotten very fat."

He then explained that he had been considering giving up sugar and social media for Lent.

Instead, he called Kennedy, whom he described as being "really into health," to ask for advice.

Vance said Kennedy rejected the idea of simply giving up sugar and offered what he described as a more intense approach.

"And basically, it's like, yeah, I eat a lot of high-protein stuff and I eat a lot of sauerkraut," Vance said.

He added that his dietary change came with a memorable warning about the timing.

"And let's just say that if that was Fat Tuesday, Fat Wednesday never came," Vance said.

Kennedy's advice became the punchline

Vance ended the story by turning Kennedy's recommendation into a joke for anyone looking to lose weight.

"My advice to you is that if you want to lose weight, call Bobby Kennedy," Vance said. "And if you want to enjoy what you eat, do not call Bobby Kennedy."

The exchange was a sharp departure from the briefing's heavier questions about Iran, energy prices, military leadership and the 2026 midterm elections.

Vance had been asked whether the conflict with Iran would be over by the midterms. 

He pushed back on calling it a war, saying major combat operations had lasted about six weeks and were no longer ongoing.

He also defended the administration's approach to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and declined to promise when gas prices would return to $3.

JD Vance also faces political questions

The briefing marked Vance's appearance at the podium while the White House has not yet named Leavitt's successor.

Possible contenders reportedly include principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly and CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings.

Vance was asked whether he was appearing as vice president or acting as press secretary. 

He said he had not accepted another position, joking that President Donald Trump had warned him not to perform too well.

"I'm very much up here as the vice president of the United States," Vance said.

He also defended Leavitt, calling her "an amazing person, an amazing mom" and praising her work at the White House.

The briefing later returned to Iran, including questions about whether the administration might provide direct support to Iranian dissidents. 

Vance declined to describe specific actions, saying economic, military, diplomatic and covert pressure were among the tools available to Trump.

But the most lighthearted exchange came when a question about Vance's weight unexpectedly brought Kennedy's sauerkraut advice into the briefing.