GOP Rep Blames 'Ozempic or Whatever' for Jelly Roll Calling Donald Trump a 'Fat Pig'

Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles has blamed 'Ozempic or whatever' for Jelly Roll calling President Donald Trump a 'fat pig,' joking that the weight-loss drug might cause sudden Trump intolerance.

Ogles made the remark on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, September 1, after the country star's late-night monologues on Jimmy Kimmel Live! sparked a fresh wave of online debate.

Ogles remains a sitting congressman but is a lame-duck member of the House after losing the Republican primary for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District on August 6 to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher. He is expected to leave Congress in January 2027.

Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, guest-hosted by Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday, August 24. During his opening monologue, he mocked Trump's physique while citing in a report about concerns surrounding the president's weight.

Jelly Roll said he had lost 300 pounds, quipping that he had 'lost an entire Donald Trump,' before telling the president, 'From one fat pig to another, take it from me that physical fitness is very important. And trust me, you'll be happy to see your penis again.'

Ogles Links Jelly Roll's Trump Shots to Weight Loss

When producer Charlie Cotton asked Ogles about Jelly Roll's remarks, the congressman immediately tied the singer's political turn to his dramatic weight loss. Ogles noted that Jelly Roll had previously been photographed embracing Trump, then joked that he had gone on 'Ozempic or whatever' and suddenly started disliking the president, suggesting that might be a side effect.

Pressed on whether he had lost a listener in Congress, Ogles said he was not really listening in the first place. He added that there were no hard feelings, saying he would happily shake Jelly Roll's hand and get his autograph.

Ogles' comments came after reporters also joked about a possible connection between Ozempic and Jelly Roll's criticism of Trump. Watters said Ozempic should carry a warning label for an increased risk of 'TDS,' or 'Trump derangement syndrome.'

Jelly Roll Pushes Back on Ozempic Claims

Jelly Roll has said he did not rely on GLP-1 drugs for his overall weight-loss transformation, although he previously disclosed that he briefly tried a weight-loss medication for about two weeks before stopping. His longer-term transformation involved dietary changes, exercise, mental-health work and help from a medical team, chef and sports nutritionist.

During his Tuesday, August 25, monologue, Jelly Roll addressed the Ozempic speculation directly. He joked, 'First of all, Jesse, I'll have you know Ozempic is the only drug I haven't tried. I know it sounds unbelievable, but I lost weight the old-fashioned way: cocaine.' He then clarified that the cocaine line was a joke and said he was proud of losing the weight through diet and exercise.

At his heaviest, Jelly Roll has said he weighed about 540 pounds. He has described losing roughly 300 pounds, while Men's Health and other reporting have documented a loss of about 275 pounds and a weight of approximately 265 pounds.

His weight-loss team has included chef and sports nutritionist Ian Larios as well as medical professionals. Jelly Roll has also spoken publicly about addressing his relationship with food and seeking mental-health support for overeating.

On Tuesday's show, he doubled down on the Trump jokes, telling listeners who threatened to stop listening to his music to 'go right ahea' and arguing that any U.S. president should be able to 'handle a few jokes.'

Backlash and Support Online

Some Trump supporters on social media criticized him as a 'sellout' or 'traitor,' while others defended the routine as standard late-night political comedy.

Florida Republican Rep. Jimmy Patronis also criticized the singer, posting that Jelly Roll was '100 per cent not welcomed' in the Florida Panhandle and saying he did not want to see the singer's tour bus on Interstate 10. Patronis represents Florida's 1st Congressional District, which includes much of the Panhandle. His comments were a political statement, not an official ban on Jelly Roll entering the region or performing there.

Others defended Jelly Roll's routine as part of his role as a guest host, arguing that late-night monologues routinely riff on current events and political figures. During his August 24 monologue, Jelly Roll also played clips of Trump mocking other people's appearances before turning the joke back on the president.

There is no indication that Ogles' Ozempic remark was part of a coordinated political campaign. His comment came amid a recent burst of commentary about Jelly Roll's weight loss and his jokes about Trump, including Watters' Ozempic joke.

What is clear is that Jelly Roll's comedy has reignited a familiar culture-war dispute, with weight, health, politics and late-night comedy colliding in a very public online fight.