US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has posted a video on social media showing him wrestling two snakes in Florida, adding to his series of bizarre animal encounters. The clip, filmed at the home of fellow Trump official Dr Mehmet Oz, captures Kennedy grabbing the serpents with his bare hands as his wife Cheryl Hines urges caution.
In the 49-second video, Kennedy recoils as one snake rears up and appears to bite his hand. The post describes the incident as 'Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio'. Southern black racers, the non-venomous species shown, are common in Florida and harmless to humans.
It remains unclear when the recording was made or what happened to the snakes. A voice resembling Oz speculates whether the snakes were mating or fighting. Kennedy, dressed in a blue shirt and tie, laughs as he handles the pair before being struck.
This incident follows a history of unusual wildlife interactions for Kennedy. In 2014, he admitted to dumping a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park after planning to skin and eat it. Last month, a biography revealed he mutilated a road-kill raccoon in 2001, cutting off its penis. Other claims include severing a whale’s head with a chainsaw and eating barbecued dog.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not comment, but a source close to Kennedy said he was 'doing just fine'.
