Sure, most chefs know how to roast and skewer — but the late Anthony Bourdain could do all that with just his words.
The food author and TV personality, who died in 2018, was beloved for his cutting language. That’s precisely why a video of Bourdain using his sharp tongue against President Donald Trump has recently resurfaced across multiple social media platforms.
In a clip from a 2017 interview with the CBC, the “Kitchen Confidential” author is asked if he’d ever share a meal with Trump.
It should be noted that in Bourdain’s popular food shows, “No Reservations” and “Parts Unknown,” he would travel to places around the world and share culturally authentic meals with locals.
“I’m open to sitting down with anyone who’s nice to me,” Bourdain began to explain. “I’ve sat down with everyone from Ted Nugent, the former chief of counterintelligence for the KGB, Hezbollah — people who I disagree with on many, if not every, fundamental issue.”
But in response to the CBC’s question about dining with Trump, Bourdain responded with an emphatic “no.”
“I just find him personally objectionable,” the chef explained. “I don’t think he likes food. And from people I know who have had to endure dinner with him, if you enjoy sitting there listening to him talk about himself, you know, great. God bless you.”
“He only eats steak well done, and if he knows how to use chopsticks, much less is able to grasp them with those tiny little nubbins, I’d be shocked,” Bourdain added.
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When the clip made its way to Instagram and X, users found Bourdain’s take refreshing — and instantly missed the chef.
“America could really use some Anthony Bourdain perspective and wisdom right about now,” one Instagram user said.
“Anthony Bourdain was curious and compassionate,” another Instagram user wrote. “And had an appreciation for great food, music, stories, culture, history and all that made life colorful. They do not share the same values, and this president wouldn’t deserve to share a table with Bourdain. RIP.”
“We could use his voice and humanity right about now.😢 RIP AB,” another IG user said.
Over on X, many users felt the same way.
“Anthony Bourdain has always been a real one,” an X user said. “From his support for Palestine, to hating Trump, to just being a genuine person who wants to share food with people. I hate that he’s gone.”
“miss this man. society got worse and worse since he departed,” another X user echoed.
This was by no means the only time Bourdain spoke out about the president. When Trump was running for office in 2015, Bourdain was asked what he thought about his campaign promise to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico (that Trump claimed Mexico would pay for) and to deport all the undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Bourdain replied that if that happened, “every restaurant in America would shut down.”
He went on to say that as a country of immigrants, we should show recent transplants more respect.
“For the people that have been living here and were so much a part of our lives, and have done nothing but do their best to achieve the American dream … there should be an easy path to legality,” Bourdain said.
