> At a Glance
> – President Donald Trump told The New York Times he has never taken GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy or Zepbound
> – He acknowledged, “I probably should,” after revealing a 20-lb drop since his first term
> – The administration in November 2025 announced a deal to lower prices of the same drugs
> – Why it matters: The president’s candor highlights both personal health choices and policy moves affecting millions of Americans seeking weight-loss treatments
President Donald Trump openly discussed his weight and the possibility of trying prescription weight-loss drugs during a wide-ranging Oval Office interview with The New York Times on January 7, even as his administration works to cut prices for those same medications.
Trump’s Weight-Loss Drug Stance
The 79-year-old president denied ever using popular GLP-1 injections, telling reporters:
> “I’ve never taken a GLP-1 drug.”
He quickly added:
> “I probably should.”
The exchange came one week after Trump told The Wall Street Journal he dislikes traditional exercise and takes a large daily dose of aspirin.
Physical Results So Far
A formal summary released in April 2025 shows Trump now weighs 224 lbs, down from 244 lbs recorded during his first term. At 6 ft 3 in, his current body-mass index places him in the overweight category, according to the CDC.
The president says he goes out of his way to have regular physicals, explaining:
> “I just feel it’s important because I think that people that are president ideally should be in good health, and they should be good cognitively.”
Policy vs. Personal Habits
While Trump resists exercise outside of golf and enjoys fast food-he once ate fries, a Quarter Pounder, a Big Mac and a Filet-O-Fish in one sitting, per Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters-his administration struck a deal in November 2025 aimed at lowering GLP-1 drug costs. At a White House event touting the agreement, he even singled out staff members who rely on the medications.
Trump has previously acknowledged his weight goals. During a 2016 interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz, when he weighed 236 lbs, he said:
> “I think I could lose a little weight. … The one thing I would like to do is be able to drop 15 to 20 pounds. It would be good.”
Mixed History on Body Image
The president has faced criticism for mocking others’ appearances:
- Telling a Miss Universe contestant to “suck your gut in”
- Referring to another contestant as “Miss Piggy”
- Fat-shaming a Navy veteran at a 2019 rally, ordering him to “go home, start exercising” after mistaking him for a protester
Trump has long voiced skepticism about exercise, believing, according to The New York Times, “people are born with a finite amount of energy and that vigorous activity can deplete that reserve, like a battery.”
Key Takeaways
- Trump has lost 20 lbs since his first term but remains in the overweight range
- He admits he “probably should” try GLP-1 drugs yet has never taken them
- His administration is pushing to reduce prices for those same medications
- The president avoids traditional workouts, preferring golf and campaign-style hand gestures as physical activity
The interview underscores the contrast between Trump’s personal health habits and his administration’s efforts to expand access to costly weight-loss treatments.
