A Fox News panel discussion took an unexpected and bizarre turn this week, devolving into laughter and widespread mockery after a segment focused on former President Donald Trump's purported testosterone levels. The claims, originating from comments by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were met with incredulity both on and off the air.
Laughter and Praise on "Outnumbered"
The unusual topic was introduced on Wednesday's episode of "Outnumbered" by former collegiate swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines. Gaines cited a claim she attributed to Dr. Mehmet Oz, stating, "I saw this morning, actually, it was Dr. Oz who said that President Trump has the highest testosterone level of any man over 70 that he’s ever seen."
The remark prompted an immediate and visible reaction from co-host Emily Compagno, who burst into laughter on air. "Why is that so funny to me?" she asked after composing herself, highlighting the segment's awkward tone.
Undeterred, Gaines continued to champion Trump, posing a hypothetical question to the panel. "You ask any 20-year-old boy, especially on a college campus, who they would rather spend a day golfing with, President Trump or [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz?" she said. "You have to imagine that majority of them are going to say President Trump." The panel quickly moved on without addressing the scenario.
Origin of the Testosterone Claim
The core of the discussion stemmed from comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the "Katie Miller Pod" earlier that day. Kennedy asserted that Dr. Oz, who serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, had reviewed Trump's medical records.
"Dr. Oz looked at his medical records and said he’s got the highest testosterone level that he’s ever seen for an individual over 70 years old," Kennedy told host Katie Miller. He added, "I know the president will be happy that I’ll repeat that."
However, Kennedy's own testimony complicated the health narrative. He noted on the same podcast that Trump "eats really bad food" like McDonald's and is "pumping himself full of poison all day long," concluding, "I don’t know how he’s alive."
Backlash and Medical Context
The Fox News segment ignited a firestorm of criticism on social media, where users labeled the focus on Trump's testosterone as "inane fucking nonsense" and "weird." One X user directly addressed Gaines, writing, "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW, RILEY."
Critics were quick to point out the limited medical value of the claim. According to Harvard Medical School, while naturally high testosterone is typically not a concern for men, artificially elevated levels can increase the risk of heart attack and cause mood swings, irritability, impaired judgment, and even delusions.
This incident is seen as part of a broader effort by Trump's allies to bolster his image of vitality, following months of public observations concerning his physical condition and two medical check-ups within a six-month period. For many observers, the attempt to frame the discussion around testosterone represented a new low, with one critic calling it the "most absurd" example of "risible gaslighting" from the network.
