A video posted online has gone viral, showing US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holding two snakes.
In the video released by Kennedy himself, he appears to be claiming to be removing reptiles from the Florida home of his colleague, Dr. Mehmet Oz. In the caption, he writes that his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, “supports” the removal of snakes from the yard of the apartment.
"Cheryl wants a pair of Black Racer snakes removed from Dr Oz's yard," Kennedy wrote, apparently referring to his wife, actress Cheryl Hines. In the video, a woman can be heard saying, "Why?", while another voice addresses Kennedy with the words, "Bobby, please," writes the BBC.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, the snakes known as Black Racer are non-venomous and harmless to humans as long as they are not disturbed. However, authorities warn that they should not be handled with bare hands.
“Keep your distance from snakes and observe them from a distance,” the agency said in a Facebook post. “Resist the urge to pick them up, even non-venomous snakes can bite hard,” their response said.
In the video, Kennedy is seen catching the snakes and holding them for the camera, smiling, even as they appear to be trying to bite him.
This is not the first time RFK Jr. has been involved in unusual episodes with animals.
In April, he was questioned in Congress about reports that he had cut off the genitals of a raccoon found dead on the street. Arizona Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva told him during the hearing: “I was reading an article this morning about your penchant for conducting medical research yourself. It is said that you once cut off the penis of a raccoon found dead on the street to study later.”
Kennedy also faced criticism two years ago from environmentalists after a claim that he sawed off the head of a dead whale on the beach and carried it with him on the roof of his car.