You probably remember her screaming at contestants on The Biggest Loser. Jillian Michaels was the face of tough-love fitness for a decade. But lately, the conversation around her has shifted from kettlebells to ballot boxes. People are scratching their heads. How did a woman who once called Mike Pence the "number one anti-gay politician" end up voting for Donald Trump in 2024?
It wasn't an overnight flip. It was a slow burn.
The "Red Pill" Moment and the Great California Exit
Honestly, the catalyst wasn't even a political candidate. It was a podcast. Michaels famously told Joe Rogan that her "Neo moment" happened in 2020 while driving. She was listening to a discussion about the origins of COVID-19—specifically the lab leak theory—and it shattered her trust in the mainstream narrative. She felt lied to.
Then came the "sanity" check in her own backyard.
Michaels lived in California her entire life. She used to be a staunch supporter of Gavin Newsom. But by 2024, she was done. She packed her bags for Miami. Why? She cited a cocktail of high taxes, rising crime, and what she called "insane" legislation. One specific breaking point involved a burglary at her home. She received a letter informing her that the perpetrator was being released early due to COVID-19 protocols.
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"I left because of him," she told Bill Maher, referring to Newsom. She described Florida as feeling "less crazy." For her, the "wokeism" on the left had simply gone too far.
Jillian Michaels Political Views on Health and RFK Jr.
If you look at where she stands today, she identifies as "center-right." But her North Star is always health.
This is where things get interesting. Before she officially backed Trump, she was a massive supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His focus on chronic health and food additives resonated with her deep-seated belief that "fitness is the No. 1 form of preventative medicine."
She hasn't been shy about praising the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement. In early 2026, she's been a frequent guest on networks like Fox News, discussing the "food pyramid inversion." She argues that the government has been incentivizing unhealthy foods for decades and that a radical shift in FDA and USDA regulations is the only way to save the country from a metabolic crisis.
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The Policy Breakdown
- Gender-Affirming Care: She has voiced significant concerns about puberty blockers for minors, calling the current direction "scary."
- Immigration: She rejects "open borders" but also dislikes "nobody gets in" rhetoric. She wants a vetted, merit-based system.
- Foreign Policy: Living in Miami, she expressed genuine anxiety about Russian presence near the coast and has pushed for an end to the war in Ukraine.
- Identity Politics: She sparked a firestorm on CNN in 2025 by criticizing the Smithsonian for what she viewed as an over-emphasis on "white imperialism" in unrelated exhibits.
Why the 2024 Vote Surprised People
Michaels admitted that Trump wasn't her first choice. She was underwhelmed by Kamala Harris—whom she had actually voted for in the past for Senate—but she still had personal qualms with Trump’s "bombastic" nature.
So why the vote?
It came down to a "policy by policy" comparison. She felt the modern Democratic party had moved too far into what she calls "bananas" territory. To her, the left’s reaction to Trump’s win was proof of a disconnect. She even compared the way Harris became the nominee without a primary to the concerns people had about January 6th. For Michaels, both sides were "pulling the same stuff," but the right's policies on the economy and health finally tipped the scales.
What This Means for Her Brand
Some fans felt betrayed. They saw a woman who once championed LGBTQ+ rights—and who is herself in a same-sex marriage with DeShanna Marie Minuto—aligning with a party they viewed as hostile to those rights.
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Michaels doesn't see it that way. She argues that her marriage is safe and that "the fight for equality" is now about different things, like the freedom to disagree without being "canceled." She joined the cast of Her Take in 2025, an online show designed as a conservative alternative to The View, alongside figures like Ana Kasparian.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the "New" Jillian Michaels
- Look Past the Headlines: If you’re a fan of her fitness advice, you don't have to agree with her stance on the Smithsonian. She often says, "nobody should take political advice from me."
- Focus on the Health Reform: Regardless of your politics, her advocacy for banning certain food dyes and cleaning up the American food supply is a central pillar of her current work.
- Evaluate the "Why": Michaels’ shift is a case study in how "middle-of-the-road" celebrities are reacting to California’s specific brand of governance. It’s less about a love for the GOP and more about a rejection of current blue-state management.
Michaels hasn't stopped being a trainer; she's just decided that the country needs a lifestyle intervention, too. Whether she's right or wrong depends entirely on which side of the Miami-California divide you're standing on.
To stay updated on these shifts, you can follow her "Keeping It Real" podcast, where she frequently hosts experts from both the health and political worlds to debate these very topics.