During a discussion on CNN’s “The Lead,” Republican strategist Kevin Madden made a comment about former President Donald Trump’s eating habits, prompting a light rebuke from another guest and host Jake Tapper.
The comment arose from a detail in Liz Cheney’s memoir, where she confronted Rep. Kevin McCarthy for visiting Trump at Mar-a-Lago just weeks after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. McCarthy reportedly mentioned that Trump wasn’t eating, expressing concern.
Tapper, discussing this surprising detail, referred to Trump as a man of “healthy appetites” but clarified that he didn’t mean it disparagingly. Later in the show, Tapper spoke with GOP strategist Kevin Madden and Democratic strategist Ashley Allison, both CNN commentators.
Madden commented on McCarthy’s statement about Trump not eating, suggesting that it was a rationalization for supporting Trump. Tapper responded, expressing surprise that the Republican Party would want someone who can’t accept election results, and Madden made a comment about Trump’s appearance, saying, “He doesn’t look like he wasn’t eating.”
Ashley Allison interjected, saying, “No body-shaming,” to which Tapper echoed, emphasizing a stance against body-shaming.
The exchange on CNN highlighted the sensitivity around discussions related to a person’s appearance and the need to avoid body-shaming language, even in a political context.
“They’re rationalizing their support for Trump,” Madden said of McCarthy’s “not eating” line.
“Can I just say that if the Republican Party wants somebody who is not eating because he can’t accept the results of an election – like, this is the leader of the free world that has nuclear codes – that’s who they want? Ok.”
“He doesn’t look like he wasn’t eating,” Madden cracked.
“No body-shaming,” Allison told him.
“No body-shaming,” Tapper echoed.
