Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is going viral again after grabbing two snakes with his bare hands in Florida. The video shows RFK Jr. getting nipped while his wife warns him to be careful nearby. The unusual clip quickly spread across social media and added another bizarre animal story to the health secretary’s growing list of headline-making encounters. The moment reportedly happened outside the Florida home of fellow Trump administration official Dr. Mehmet Oz.
RFK Jr grabs snakes in viral video
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted the video himself on social media Tuesday. In the footage, Kennedy calmly picks up two southern black racer snakes while standing on a patio believed to belong to Mehmet Oz. His wife, Cheryl Hines, can be heard nervously telling him to be careful as one of the snakes suddenly turns and appears to bite his hand.
The caption shared with the post read, “Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio.” At one point, a voice believed to be Oz’s wonders whether the snakes were fighting or mating. Kennedy, wearing a dress shirt and tie, laughs while holding both reptiles before briefly pulling back in pain after the strike. Another woman in the background can be heard saying, “You’re nuts.”
Southern black racers are common across Florida and are not venomous. They are known for moving quickly and usually do not pose a danger to humans. The video did not explain what happened to the snakes afterward or exactly when the clip was recorded. A source close to Kennedy later told reporters he was “doing just fine” after the incident (via The Guardian).
Kennedy’s relationship with wildlife has often sparked controversy. The son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy has faced years of public scrutiny over unusual animal stories. He previously admitted to leaving a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park and allegedly discussed cutting parts from a dead raccoon found on a highway. Reports have also linked him to claims involving a whale carcass strapped to a car roof.
