US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has posted a video showing him wrestling two snakes at the Florida home of fellow Trump official Dr Mehmet Oz, during which he was bitten on the hand. The 49-second clip, shared on social media, captures Kennedy grabbing the pair of serpents bare-handed while his wife Cheryl Hines urges caution. One snake rears up and appears to strike his left hand, causing him to recoil.
The post identifies the snakes as Black Racers, a non-venomous species common in Florida, and notes the location as Dr Oz's patio. A voice resembling Oz's speculates whether the snakes were mating or fighting. Kennedy, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, laughs as he handles the snakes before the bite. It is unclear when the video was recorded or what became of the reptiles.
This incident adds to Kennedy's history of unusual animal encounters. He previously admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in New York's Central Park in 2014, and a biography published last month alleges he mutilated a road-kill raccoon in 2001. Other claims include severing a whale's head with a chainsaw and eating barbecued dog, though these have not been independently verified.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not comment, but a source close to Kennedy said he was 'doing just fine'.
