New York City has rules. You don't walk slowly on the sidewalk, you don't make eye contact on the subway, and you absolutely do not eat pizza with a fork. Then there is Donald Trump.
For a guy who basically built his entire brand on being the quintessential New Yorker, his approach to a slice of pepperoni has caused more genuine outrage than some of his most controversial policy proposals. It's weird. It’s consistent. And honestly, it’s a tiny window into how the man operates.
The Infamous Pizza Summit of 2011
The moment that really broke the internet—or at least the New York tabloid scene—happened in June 2011. Trump took Sarah Palin, who was visiting the city, to a Famiglia Pizzeria in Times Square. Now, locals will already tell you that taking someone to a chain pizza joint in Times Square is a red flag. But then the photos came out.
There they were. Two high-profile political figures, sitting in a plastic-booth pizza shop, systematically deconstructing their slices with plastic forks and knives.
The backlash was instant. Jon Stewart went on a legendary multi-minute rant on The Daily Show, essentially accusing Trump of being a fake New Yorker. Stewart’s point was simple: "You fold it, you eat it, you get on with your life." Using a fork isn't just inefficient; it's a rejection of the city’s culinary soul.
The Reasoning: It’s a Weight Loss Hack?
Trump didn't just ignore the criticism. He actually doubled down. In a video he posted later, he explained that using a fork allows him to scrape the toppings off the dough.
"This way you can take the top of the pizza off so you're not just eating the crust. I like to not eat the crust so we can keep the weight down at least as good as possible."
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Basically, he's doing a DIY keto diet before keto was a thing. He wants the cheese, the grease, and the pepperoni, but he views the bread as the enemy. It's a bizarrely disciplined way to eat junk food. You've got to wonder why he doesn't just order a bowl of meatballs, but hey, the man likes the ritual of the pie.
That 1995 Pizza Hut Commercial
Long before the "pizza summit," Trump was actually the face of a major pizza innovation. In 1995, Pizza Hut launched Stuffed Crust Pizza. They needed a big name to sell the idea that eating pizza "backwards" was the new cool.
They hired Donald and his recently divorced ex-wife, Ivana Trump. The ad was peak 90s. It featured the two of them in a lavish setting, acting all coy and scandalous about doing something "wrong."
"Do you really think this is the right thing for us to be doing?" Donald asks.
"But it feels so right," Ivana purrs back.
Then, they both grab a slice and bite into the crust first. It was a marketing masterstroke that supposedly helped Pizza Hut increase sales by $300 million that year. But looking back, it's hilarious because the commercial depicts him doing the one thing he later claimed he hated: eating the bread.
The "Pie Guys" and the Trial Diet
Flash forward to 2024. During his criminal trial in Manhattan, Trump’s eating habits were once again under the microscope. You can't spend all day in a courtroom without getting hungry. His solution? A massive takeout order from a local spot called Pie Guys.
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Reports indicated the order included 14 pizzas. The toppings weren't exactly "light" or "weight-conscious." We’re talking:
- Pepperoni
- Sausage
- Chicken
- Bacon
- Ranch dressing
It's a far cry from the "scraping the toppings off to save calories" excuse from 2011. It seems when the stress is high, the crust-skipping rules might get a little flexible. Or maybe he just has enough staff around to eat the leftover dough he leaves behind.
The RFK Jr. Factor
Interestingly, as Trump moved into his 2024 campaign and beyond, his diet became a point of contention even within his inner circle. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who joined forces with Trump, has been vocal about how "bad" the food is on Trump Force One. RFK Jr. famously described the options as "either KFC or Big Macs," calling the rest "inedible."
Yet, even the "Make America Healthy Again" advocate was eventually spotted in a viral photo sharing a McDonald’s meal on the private jet with Trump and Elon Musk. Pizza might be the one thing that can bridge the gap between a health nut and a fast-food aficionado, even if they disagree on the cutlery.
Why People Actually Care
You might think, it’s just pizza, who cares? But in politics, food is shorthand for "Are you one of us?"
When a politician eats a corn dog at a state fair or a cheesesteak in Philly, they are performing a ritual of relatability. By using a fork and knife, Trump signals that he is not like the average guy on the street. He’s the guy who doesn't want to get grease on his silk tie. He’s the billionaire who wants the flavor of the street but the distance of the dining room.
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It’s an intentional choice. He’s never really tried to pretend he’s a "regular" guy; he’s always been the "successful" guy. The fork is just part of the costume.
How to Eat Pizza Like a Billionaire (If You Must)
If you actually want to try the Trump method, here is the unofficial guide to the process.
- Select a sturdy plastic fork. It has to be plastic. Silverware feels too formal for a cardboard box, but fingers are too messy.
- Ignore the "Fold." New Yorkers will glare at you. Let them.
- The Scraping Technique. Use the knife to separate the cheese and toppings from the underlying dough.
- Discard the "Handle." The crust is merely a delivery vehicle. Once it has served its purpose, it is dead to you.
- Pair with a Diet Coke. No exceptions. The bubbles cut through the grease.
Honestly, it's a lot of work for a slice of pizza. You're basically turning a hand-held meal into a surgical procedure. But if you're worried about your tie or your waistline, maybe the man is onto something. Just don't expect to make many friends in a Brooklyn pizzeria doing it.
For your next pizza night, try comparing a standard New York fold with the "scrape and discard" method. You'll quickly see why the debate still rages. Whether it's a marketing gimmick for Pizza Hut or a genuine quirk of a man who hates germs and extra calories, the way Donald Trump eats pizza will probably remain a staple of American pop culture for decades.
Next time you're in Manhattan, skip the Times Square chains and head to a local spot in Greenwich Village or the Lower East Side to see how the locals really do it. Just remember: keep the fork in the drawer unless you're looking to start a fight.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking to reduce simple carb intake while still enjoying social outings at pizza parlors, the "topping scrape" method is a legitimate, albeit socially risky, tactic. To avoid the social stigma, consider ordering a "crustless pizza" or a pizza bowl, which many modern pizzerias now offer specifically for the keto-conscious crowd.