Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy says she picked up the phone to call her “old buddy” at the Pentagon after her daughter, attending a prestigious West Point summer program, complained about the quality of food served at the U.S. Military Academy.
“Dropped our daughter off at West Point Summer Leadership Academy last weekend. Only 2 brief calls since. Her only complaint — the ultra processed food: ‘The food here is cancer,’” Campos-Duffy posted to social media. “Of course, I couldn’t resist calling my old buddy Pete Hegseth who told me he has an upcoming meeting w/ Bobby Kennedy to discuss military & MAHA, but also managed my expectations, ‘Rachel, it’s the Army, not Whole Foods!’ Fair enough! Best Cabinet ever!”
Campos-Duffy and her husband, former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy, enrolled their 16-year-old daughter, Paloma Pilar Duffy, in West Point’s Summer Leadership Experience — a two-week program designed to give high-achieving high school students a first-hand look at cadet life, from academic expectations to physical training.
Dropped our daughter off at West Point Summer Leadership Academy last weekend. Only 2 brief calls since. Her only complaint – the ultra processed food: “The food here is cancer”. Of course, I couldn’t resist calling my old buddy Pete @SecDef who told me…. pic.twitter.com/XzTdEAuXKu
— Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) June 5, 2025
Her light-hearted complaint about the mess hall prompted swift reactions online — many from veterans and military family members who viewed the post as a tone-deaf example of political privilege.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of suffering during those two weeks,” commented Denise DiEleuterio DiMatteo. “Can you be for real and think about the enlistees that suffer through basic training and have to eat MREs while sitting in the rain out in the field? Come on, seriously? That’s worth a phone call to Hegseth?”
Another commenter, Tara Elizabeth, added: “My daughter survived Air Force boot camp on hummus and cereal. Best of luck to your daughter.”
A Close Media and Political Circle
Campos-Duffy’s reference to Pete Hegseth wasn’t out of the blue. The two previously worked together as co-hosts on Fox & Friends Weekend during a brief overlap in 2021. Though their on-air partnership was short-lived, their personal relationship appears much closer. The Duffy and Hegseth families have publicly spent holidays together — including Easter at the White House — and frequently appear in one another’s social media posts.
Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer who deployed to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, remains highly active in conservative military circles. Campos-Duffy’s claim that he had an “upcoming meeting with Bobby Kennedy” in connection to military affairs and “MAHA” (an apparent reference to a “Make America Healthy Again”-style initiative) drew additional curiosity about the nature of that discussion and whether it had any formal government backing.
What’s on the Menu at West Point?
Contrary to the younger Duffy’s description, West Point’s mess hall boasts a structured and performance-focused meal program. According to the academy’s website, cadets receive three meals a day that support both cognitive function and physical recovery. Standard menus include:
- Two types of animal-based protein
- Carbohydrates
- Cooked vegetables and dessert
- Vegetarian options upon request
- A robust salad bar featuring fresh-cut fruit, greens, eggs, tuna, chickpeas, seeds, cheese, and more
Cadets also have access to a grab-and-go station stocked with snacks such as yogurt, granola bars, peanut butter, protein drinks, and electrolyte beverages. Additionally, on-campus dining options include Burger King, Subway, and Starbucks — a lineup many active-duty soldiers might envy when comparing it to the typical field rations or basic chow hall fare.
Still, Campos-Duffy’s frustrations may stem more from expectations than actual conditions. As Hegseth reportedly told her: “It’s the Army, not Whole Foods.”
The Bigger Picture
Campos-Duffy rose to fame as a cast member on MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco before transitioning into conservative media. She has guest-hosted The View and was later hired as a permanent co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend in 2021. Married to Sean Duffy — a fellow MTV Road Rules alum turned Congressman — the couple has nine children and remains deeply involved in faith-based and conservative advocacy work.
The daughter at the center of the controversy, Paloma, is one of the younger Duffys and represents the family’s next generation venturing into the military-adjacent world. Their eldest daughter, Evita, is a media personality in her own right, associated with conservative outlets such as The Bongino Report and Wake Up America.
The Salty Take:
One parent’s “cancer food” is another soldier’s luxury buffet. Some folks call their senator when their MRE is rotten — others call the Secretary of Defense over granola options at West Point.
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