Former Trump Aide Draws Fire for Comparing Economy to 'Fat Person,' Mass Deportations to Ozempic

Former Donald Trump aide Caroline Sunshine drew a stunned reaction on CNN NewsNight Monday when she compared the U.S. economy to "a fat person" and suggested that mass deportations, a policy advocated by Trump, would be the equivalent of the weight-loss drug Ozempic for the nation's economic health.

Sunshine, a former Disney Channel actress, made the remarks while discussing the state of the economy with host Abby Phillip and other panelists. As the conversation turned to the rising cost of living, Sunshine offered her analogy, stating, "If you see somebody fat, you go, 'They‘re not very healthy. Actually... they just need to lose weight.'"

The comparison was met with audible laughter and disbelief from the other guests on the panel, including Yemisi Egbewole, Mike Nellis, Terry Moran, and Brad Todd.

Despite the reaction, Sunshine continued, asserting that the U.S. economy is structurally sounder than current price tags for goods like gas and groceries might suggest. She argued that these higher costs were "masking" underlying economic strengths, such as progress in curbing inflation and a strong labor market. She cited a study from the Burning Glass Institute, a Pennsylvania-based think tank, which indicated that the labor market is at its best in decades for individuals without college degrees, a point that has also been noted by publications like The Wall Street Journal and Fox Business.

When Moran questioned whether her perspective reflected the experiences of everyday Americans, Sunshine countered that "inflation is down" and "jobs were up." She then reiterated her controversial point: "You want to know why? Because the best Ozempic for the economy is deporting illegal immigrants out of this country."

This statement was met with visible skepticism from the panelists. Nellis had earlier mockingly speculated that Trump himself might be compared to the popular weight-loss drug.

Sunshine maintained that "the economy is more than just gas and grocery prices." Phillip attempted to redirect the discussion, telling Sunshine, "Just to be clear, you telling people that doesn't mean that they actually experience it," before yielding the floor to other guests.

Sunshine, who began appearing on NewsNight in June, has previously been involved in other notable on-air clashes. In June, she engaged in a viral debate with former Bill Clinton aide Keith Boykin regarding the administration's immigration policies. Last month, she had a heated discussion with ABC News contributor Tara Setmayer about Trump's past efforts to end birthright citizenship.

Sunshine gained fame for her role in the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up" before joining the Trump White House in 2018.