In a surprising moment during his ongoing civil fraud trial in New York, former U.S. President Donald Trump candidly acknowledged, “I gotta lose some weight,” following a courtroom portrait session.
The 77-year-old, facing allegations of manipulating property values for favorable financing, seemed to be in a lighter mood inside the chamber. While dismissing the trial as a “fraud” and a “witch hunt” to reporters outside, Trump displayed a touch of self-awareness when faced with the work of sketch artists Jane Rosenberg and Isabelle Brourman.
After viewing Brourman’s portrait, Trump humorously admitted, “I gotta lose some weight,” marking a departure from his well-documented resistance to criticisms about his lifestyle. Throughout his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump’s weight and health were subjects of scrutiny, with his doctor advising him to shed pounds through better eating habits and exercise.
Despite a 2019 examination revealing him in the obese range at 243 pounds, Trump’s physician, Sean Conley, asserted his overall good health. The trial, which commenced in October, forms part of the legal challenges the former president confronts as he eyes a comeback bid for the White House.
Judge Arthur Engoron, overseeing the trial, has already ruled that Trump and his adult sons manipulated financial statements to deceive banks and insurers for more favorable loan and insurance terms. Trump is set to testify for the second time on Monday, adding another layer to the courtroom drama.
Even amid the serious legal proceedings, Trump’s lighter moment with the courtroom sketch artist offers a glimpse into the man behind the political persona. As the trial unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s candid remark on shedding pounds will overshadow the weight of the legal accusations against him.
