In what was intended to be a focused Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, Vice President J.D. Vance made awkward jokes, telling President Donald Trump he was “just here for the free coffee,” meaning the meeting, and insisted he wasn’t the unnamed “fat friend” Trump referenced in a story about the effectiveness of a weight-loss drug.
The White House gathering opened with national and international policy discussions before Trump recounted an anecdote about a successful business acquaintance who took a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic, only to see no benefits. Trump joked, “My friend took Ozempic. I told him — IT’S NOT WORKING!” to which Vance interjected, “He’s not talking about me!” Then later, when asked if he had something to say, Vance responded that he’s “only here for the free coffee.”
