Dr. Ronny Jackson (Image: Pentagon)
Ronny L. Jackson, the White House physician, was named the new Veterans Affairs Secretary by Donald Trump on Wednesday, replacing former VA Under Secretary David Shulkin.
In January, Jackson detailed the results of Trump’s health report in a press conference. Jackson showered the president with compliments about his physical condition and health, saying Trump had a great body and “incredible genes.” Jackson added that the only thing he recommended the president was that he take on a healthier diet — instead of the McDonald’s, KFC and other fast foods Trump typically consumes — and that if he did so, “he might live to be 200 years old.”
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Jackson’s comments seem particularly strange, given that it was revealed shortly after that news conference that Trump was just a few pounds away from being considered obese.
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The doctor was mocked in the opening sketch of the late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live on January 20. Jackson, played by Beck Bennett, was introduced by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (played by Aidy Bryant) for the news conference, and began to exaggerate the comments he made about Trump, which almost made it seem as if he were romantically attracted to the president.
“His weight is a very svelte 239 pounds, he has a gorgeous 44-inch Coke-bottle waist,” said Bennett as Jackson.
Bennett also said Trump’s legs “seem to go on forever,” and that “it is my expert medical opinion that the president’s got a rockin’ bod, with the perfect amount of cushion for the pushin’.”
The “Cold Open” sketch also poked fun at Trump’s alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, and said the president also passed several different types of physical and mental health examinations as reporters were left befuddled by Bennett and Sanders’ claims.
“Tide pod challenge, crushed it!” said Bryant as Sanders about Trump, referencing the trend among teenagers of eating as many Tide laundry pods as they can without vomiting or getting sick in any way.
Jackson has served as the White House physician since 2013, when he was appointed by then-President Barack Obama.
Here are the real comments Jackson made at the press conference:
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