Podcast Summary: “Trump's Disgusting Bedroom Habit Exposed: Wolff”

The Daily Beast Podcast
Host: Joanna Coles (with guest Michael Wolff)
Date: November 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively and irreverent episode of The Daily Beast Podcast dives into Donald Trump’s eating habits, spanning his time in the White House, at Mar-a-Lago, and on the campaign trail. Journalist and returning guest Michael Wolff brings an insider’s view, sharing stories and food "scoops" that paint a vivid portrait of Trump as a man whose tastes, anxieties, and rituals around food are both eccentric and unexpectedly revealing. The dialogue is peppered with wry humor and candid observations, moving beyond mere trivia to consider how fast food shapes the image and psychology of the former president.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump's White House “Bedroom Eating”

• Main Revelation: Trump preferred eating in his bedroom—often on his bed—instead of in the official dining room, especially during his early White House days.
  • ”When he originally got there, it really sounded like he was, you know, like the feral child.” — Michael Wolff [01:57]
  • ”He liked to eat in his bedroom?” — Michael [01:46]
• Rationale: Possible comfort-seeking, avoidance of unfamiliar staff, and fatigue.

2. Obsession with Junk Food & Buffets

• Buffets at the Golf Club:
  • Trump loves a lavish, old-fashioned buffet at his golf club—distinct from modern mass-market buffets, with stations for hams, steak, pork, beef, lobster, omelets, and huge shrimp.
    • “They refer to the stations with some reverence.” — Michael Wolff [03:32]
  • The Mar-a-Lago menu is described as stuck in 1965, heavy on steak in all forms, with traditional pies for dessert [05:29–07:24].
• Vegetable Avoidance: No reported vegetables in Trump's diet.
• Elitism & Irony: Despite his elite surroundings, Trump’s palate is “incredibly limited” and childlike—burgers, steak, candy, Diet Coke, and Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream are his staples.

3. Fast Food as Security & Ritual

• Food Safety Concerns:
  • One reason Trump prefers McDonald’s: “all his food is prepackaged and, and nobody's hands touch it. Therefore, it's much safer.” — Michael Wolff [09:54]
  • Wolff claims as his "scoop" that Trump’s McDonald’s habit is partly about minimizing the risk of poisoning or contamination.
• Routine & Superstition:
  • Trump often has two hamburgers a day, sometimes both lunch and dinner [11:27].
  • On the campaign and in court, lunch menus rotate among pizza, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Jimmy John’s [16:11].

4. The Diet Coke Button & Sweet Tooth

• The Button: Trump had a literal button on his desk to summon Diet Coke at any time—a bizarre but true detail.
  • “What is that on the desk? Diet Coke. And they rush it in.” — Michael Wolff [22:21]
• Candy Bowls: He keeps bowls of Starbursts, Hershey's Miniatures, Laffy Taffy, Milky Ways, and Tootsie Rolls; asks staff to “bring me the poison” (meaning candy) [20:06].
  • ”Candy is for children. I mean, just think about his Halloween.” — Michael Wolff [20:41]

5. State Dinners & Avoidance of “Elaborate” Food

• Presidential Banquets: Wolff explains Trump typically eats a burger before any state dinner, ignoring gourmet menus (e.g., goat cheese, rack of lamb, sunchoke ravioli) served to world leaders [26:49, 27:29].
  • “He has a burger before... he just pokes it. Pokes at it.” — Michael Wolff [26:59]
  • The White House food, according to Wolff, is “banquet food”—bland, unimpressive, and only for show [27:40].

6. Food as Identity & Connection to America

• Populist Alignment: Trump’s diet is both “genuine” and part of his everyman appeal.
  • “Maybe that is... most of the country eats McDonald's, and McDonald's is delicious. Just not every day.” — Michael Wolff [17:38]
  • Fast food as his “superpower”—a symbol of how he “channels the nation” [46:28].
• Comparison to Other Presidents:
  • Where Obama had carefully controlled habits and guilt over indulgence (“eight almonds”), Trump has “never felt guilt about a burger” [46:57].

7. Mar-a-Lago Vignettes & Personality

• Atmosphere: Mar-a-Lago is presented as a throwback, almost “tacky” country club, complete with theme nights and Trump acting the “Catskills tumbler” (emcee and entertainer) [44:10, 44:39].
  • “It’s surprisingly small [Mar-a-Lago], but it’s also kind of tacky in some old fashioned way.” — Michael Wolff [44:10]
• Behavior: Trump delights in “greeting everybody,” making corny jokes, and playing host [44:31].

8. Food Stories in Other Circles (Epstein)

• Private Chef Anecdotes: Both Trump and Jeffrey Epstein are described as men with little real enjoyment of food, both preferring hamburgers no matter the occasion [30:27–32:40].
  • Epstein’s mealtime routine included a chef always ready for requests—awkward for guests caught eating alone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s eating in bed:
  "When he originally got there, it really sounded like he was, you know, like the feral child." — Michael Wolff [01:57]
• On Mar-a-Lago buffet lavishness:
  "This is like the old fashioned buffet... the stations, they refer to the stations with some reverence." — Michael Wolff [03:32]
• On McDonald’s as food safety:
  "All his food is prepackaged and, and nobody's hands touch it. Therefore, it's much safer." — Michael Wolff [09:54]
• On state dinners:
  "He has a burger before... he just pokes it. Pokes at it." — Michael Wolff [26:59]
• On the Diet Coke button:
  "And he pushes it and he's always pushing it." — Michael Wolff [22:35]
• On childish candy habits:
  "He says, bring me the poison." — Michael Wolff [20:06]
• On food, identity, and politics:
  "It's a fast food country. Is this his superpower?" — Michael [46:40]
  "Donald Trump has never felt guilt about a burger. That's heavy." — Michael Wolff [46:57]
• On never eating McDonald’s:
  "I've never ever in my life eaten at a McDonald's." — Michael Wolff [17:57]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:32] Trump’s White House “bedroom eating” habit
• [03:32] Mar-a-Lago & golf club lavish buffet details
• [05:29–07:24] Trump’s favorite menu items (Steak, pies, big shrimp)
• [09:54] McDonald’s and food safety anxiety
• [11:27] Trump’s daily hamburger ritual
• [16:11] Campaign/court lunch menus: pizza, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s
• [20:06] Candy bowl and “bring me the poison” story
• [22:21] The Diet Coke button story
• [26:49] State dinner menu avoidance
• [30:27–32:40] Jeffrey Epstein’s food routines; comparison with Trump
• [33:41] Trump and ice cream (Haagen Dazs vanilla obsession)
• [39:37–40:13] Hotel mini fridge with ice cream; campaign trail rituals
• [44:10] Mar-a-Lago’s old-fashioned tackiness and Trump’s host role
• [46:28] Fast food as Trump’s political “superpower”
• [46:57] Obama’s eight-almond snack vs. Trump’s guiltless burgers

Additional Notes

• Michael Wolff provides behind-the-scenes anecdotes from his extensive reporting experiences, including personal encounters at Mar-a-Lago and the White House.
• The episode’s humor often revolves around British versus American food culture, the ostentation of menu language, and the oddities of celebrity eating habits.
• The hosts touch on broader themes: food as status, control, anxiety, populist branding, childhood comforts, and how leaders’ diets serve as metaphors for their governance.

Takeaway

If you want to understand the quirks and symbolism of Donald Trump’s public and private face, look no further than his tray of cheeseburgers—or the Diet Coke button at his elbow. This episode offers an insightful, often funny look at food as psychology, power, risk, and performance in Trumpland. The revelations aren’t just about “disgusting bedroom habits”—they’re about how what’s on the plate can mirror what’s in the mind.