'A let them eat cake moment': Trump official makes 'despicable' comment in Fox interview
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz marked the 60th anniversary of Medicaid with an odd gesture during an appearance on Fox Business Monday, presenting host Stuart Varney with a carrot cake dubbed the “MAHA Medi‑cake.” He went on to urge Medicaid recipients not to eat carrot cake.
Oz, who helped decorate the cake with “Happy 60th Birthday Medicare” in red frosting, joked he couldn’t find a “healthy cake,” so opted for carrot cake instead. As the cake sat between them, he quipped, “Don’t eat carrot cake — eat real food.”
He also defended the Trump administration’s proposed Medicaid cuts, which include stricter work requirements. Oz dismissed projections that nearly 11 million people might lose coverage under the plan, insisting that the steps are designed to promote healthier lifestyles.
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When Varney pointed out the cake again, Oz said: "We’re all in it together, Stuart, which means we’ll be there for you, the American people, when you need help with Medicaid and Medicare, but you’ve gotta stay healthy as well.”
“Be vital, do the most you can do to really live up to the potential, you’re God-given potential, to live a full and healthy life. And you know,” Oz said. “Don’t eat carrot cake, eat real food," pointing again to the cake he brought to the show.
Oz’s gesture ignited confusion and criticism across social media platforms, with users questioning the tone-deafness of celebrating Medicaid’s 60th anniversary while cautioning recipients not to indulge in carrot cake.
Rep. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on the social platform X: "17 million people are going to lose their health insurance because of the Trump administration. Dr. Oz's advice is 'don’t eat carrot cake.'"
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One user wrote: "A 'let them eat cake' moment brought to you by Dr. Oz, who will benefit from the transfer of wealth from the poor & middle-class to the very rich. Do get sick now and don't eat carrot cake while the @GOP, @SenateGOP, @HouseGOP take OUR tax monies away from healthcare to put it into the pockets of the greedy and gluttonous."
Left-wing account "Occupy Democrats" wrote on X: "MAGA snake oil salesman Dr. Mehmet Oz gives blood-boiling advice to Americans who are worried about Donald Trump’s murderous $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid: 'Don’t eat carrot cake.' It’s not enough for them to take away our healthcare, Republicans want to blame us for getting sick."
"Guys it was the carrot cake all along that was giving people cancer…he solved it. Disgraced, Despicable Dr Oz. solving the world’s problems again," said a user.
Watch the segment below, or by clicking this link.
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