US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has posted a video of himself wrestling two snakes in Florida, during which he was bitten. The incident occurred at the Palm Beach home of Dr Mehmet Oz, a fellow Trump administration official.
In the 49-second clip, Kennedy is seen grabbing two black racers with his bare hands. His wife, Cheryl Hines, urges caution as one snake rears up and appears to bite his hand. A voice believed to be Oz's speculates on whether the snakes were mating or fighting.
Southern black racers are non-venomous and common in Florida. The video's caption reads: 'Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio.' It is unclear when the footage was recorded or what happened to the snakes.
This is the latest in a series of unusual animal encounters involving Kennedy. He previously admitted dumping a bear cub carcass in New York's Central Park and was alleged to have mutilated a dead raccoon. Other claims include decapitating a whale with a chainsaw and having part of his brain eaten by a worm.
A source close to Kennedy said he was 'doing just fine' after the snake bite. The Department of Health and Human Services did not comment.
