America’s health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, had a close encounter with two snakes when he decided to handle them bare-handed, despite warnings from wildlife experts. The incident took place at the residence of fellow Trump official Mehmet Oz, where Kennedy Jr was seen picking up non-venomous Black Racers and showing them off to the camera, while his wife Cheryl Hines cautioned him to be careful. Despite being repeatedly bitten by the snakes, Kennedy Jr continued to smile for the camera before releasing the reptiles back into the wild in Florida.
The video of the encounter was shared on Kennedy Jr’s social media account, where he described the event as the removal of the snakes from Oz’s patio. This behavior was met with criticism, as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminded the public to keep a safe distance from snakes, even non-venomous ones, to avoid potential bites.
This is not the first time Kennedy Jr has been involved in unusual interactions with wildlife. Past incidents include allegedly dumping a bear carcass in Central Park and being questioned about cutting off a raccoon’s penis. Additionally, environmentalists have called for an investigation into claims that he once removed the head of a beached whale with a chainsaw.
Kennedy Jr has not publicly commented on these events, although his daughter previously shared details of the whale incident in an interview. According to her account, the family transported the whale head back home, causing an unpleasant experience on the road due to the smell. Despite the controversy surrounding his actions, Kennedy Jr has remained silent on the matter.