Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared in West Virginia on Friday, March 28, to discuss the state’s health initiatives — but also made a few rude remarks at Governor Patrick Morrisey’s expense.
During the joint live appearance, they spoke about the administration having West Virginia lead the “Make America Healthy Again” movement and save federal tax dollars as well, WVVA reports.
Morrisey, 57, introduced Kennedy, 70, to the stage for the event. During his speech, Kennedy began to fat-shame Gov. Morrisey, as seen in a video published by The New York Post. He made several comments about the Republican politician’s weight, even suggesting public monthly weigh-ins.
Kennedy told the crowd he and Morrisey met during the early stages of the Trump transition. “I said to Governor Morrisey the first time I saw him, I said, ‘You look like you ate Governor Morrisey,’ ” Kennedy recalled.
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“There was a lot of talk about getting healthy again, and I’m very happy that he’s invited me to be his personal trainer,” he said before the crowd laughed.
“I’m going to put him on a really rigorous regimen,” Kennedy continued. “And we’re going to put him on a carnivore diet.”
Kennedy then asked the crowd if Morrisey should do a “public weigh-in once a month.” He added that if Morrisey lost 30 pounds, he would return to West Virginia to celebrate and do a public weigh-in with him.
“You’re welcome, Denise,” Kennedy said, referring to West Virginia’s first lady. But Morrisey joked back, “That may be a little more than I bargained for.”
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In his opening remarks, Morrisey said West Virginia ranks at the bottom for several health metrics. The state has the highest obesity rating in the country and is the second state to have the lowest life expectancy rates, according to the State of Childhood Obesity and the World Population Review, respectively.
Morrisey plans to implement the “Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia.” The first pillar is “Clean Up the Food,” and adheres to the recently signed legislation that bans certain dyes in public school lunches, per WVVA. It will eventually impact all foods in the state.
The second pillar is to get West Virginians back to work by “expanding the current mandatory employment and training requirements necessary to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] benefits,” the Senate bill reads.
The third focuses on getting residents to move their bodies, per WVVA. The fourth and final pillar is “Reward Healthy Food Choices.” He said that SNAP recipients will need more nutritious and quality foods and SNAP will need to be “realigned” with those goals.
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The press conference concluded with Morrisey signing the request for a waiver that the state can bar citizens from using SNAP to purchase soda, per WVVA.
