Illinois Governor JB Pritzker reveals he lost 80lb on GLP-1 drug after diabetes diagnosis, fuelling 2028 White House speculation

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, 61, has confirmed he has spent two years on a GLP-1 diabetes medication, prescribed after blood tests identified him as diabetic, losing 80lb along the way. Speaking to CBS Mornings, he described an almost immediate change in his relationship with food, saying he suddenly realised 'I don't need to eat that thing.' He rejected any suggestion that the dramatic weight loss was connected to a presidential run, saying his attention is on winning re-election as Illinois governor this November.

Trump ridiculed Pritzker's weight at a 2024 rally, saying 'he's too busy eating — he wants to eat all the time.'

Pritzker traced his motivation to lose weight back to his childhood, when his father suffered a fatal heart attack at 39 on a tennis court.

He declined to identify the specific drug he uses or disclose what he currently weighs, but left open the possibility of a future White House bid.