An unexpected craze for sauerkraut is sweeping Washington's political circles in the United States. It began as Vice President and Ministers in the Donald Trump administration started vying to eat sauerkraut, the German fermented cabbage.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 18th (local time) that "everyone in the Trump Cabinet is eating sauerkraut," noting that from Vice President JD Vance to Minister of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and Minister of Transportation Sean Duffy are all following the related diet.
The diet is recommended by U.S. physician Sean O'Mara and centers on fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi, as well as grass-fed beef, while cutting back on alcohol and sugar. O'Mara did not disclose a specific client list, citing patient privacy. However, according to people familiar with the matter, Minister Kennedy, Minister Lutnick, and Minister Duffy all received treatment from O'Mara.
O'Mara served as part of the White House supporting medical staff during the George W. Bush administration. He began offering health advice to political figures at the time and now runs a private clinic specializing in whole-body MRI exams.
According to the WSJ, the first in the Trump Cabinet to start the diet was Minister Kennedy, who is 72 this year. At a recent event in Michigan, he said, "I lost about 9 kilograms in 30 days," adding, "JD Vance is on the same diet and his appearance has changed markedly."
Vice President Vance is said to eat eggs, sauerkraut, and berries for lunch, and pair fermented vegetables with beef or lamb for dinner. Even on Air Force Two, the vice president's dedicated aircraft, he reportedly enjoys snacks like grass-fed beef jerky, bunless cheeseburgers, and fermented vegetables.
Minister Lutnick has reportedly started making fermented vegetables at home instead of buying commercial products. He once avoided red meat over cancer concerns but has now included it in his diet, and he is also said to have quit diet soda.
Interest is growing around the diet's effects. On social media (SNS), reactions continued that Vice President Vance's weight loss stood out in recently released photos, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of the Republican Party said his waist circumference shrank by about 10 centimeters after starting the diet at O'Mara's suggestion.
However, President Trump has not joined the trend yet. The WSJ said that President Trump was recently spotted at an NBA Finals game eating pizza and french fries and drinking diet soda, and that he still enjoys fast food and steak with ketchup.