JB Pritzker Jokes About Weight Loss and Rahm Emanuel at Gridiron Club Awards

JB Pritzker acknowledged his recent, visible weight loss and took aim at political banter about Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel during remarks at the 141st Gridiron Club and Foundation Awards in Washington on Saturday; as of March 22, 2026, he told guests his immediate priority remains serving the people of Illinois. Pritzker opened with self-deprecating lines — including a quip about the popular weight‑loss drug — and thanked reporters gathered for the annual dinner.

Seen by many as a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential contest, Pritzker emphasized his focus on state duties, saying he is “100% focused on the people of Illinois” and invoked a 2006 quote from Barack Obama. Seated at the head table, he spoke directly to Emanuel in the room and later recounted a private exchange in jest. The audience topped more than 560 attendees, a mix of journalists, media executives, lawmakers, diplomats and military officers, and included four governors, six members of Congress and several ambassadors. Gridiron Club leadership also referenced the governor’s national profile during opening remarks.

The program combined roast-style speeches with satirical sketches lampooning the emerging 2028 field and national politics. Pritzker shared the evening’s speaking duties with Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who offered pointed advice and jokes about campaign logistics and hotel choices tied to the Pritzker family business. Performers staged both Democratic and Republican skits, and the club noted its long tradition of inviting presidents even as one recent administration declined to provide a speaker.