US Health and Human Services SecretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jrhas captured the fascination of the internet after posting a video of himself wrangling two snakes barehanded on Dr Mehmet Oz's patio.
The extraordinary footage, which quickly accumulated millions of views on X, shows the prominent political figure casually seizing the reptiles by their tails whilst onlookers react with a mixture of terror and amazement.
For those unfamiliar with his background, the high-risk viral video serves as a vivid reminder of the cabinet secretary's lifelong, deeply public obsession with the animal kingdom. Following the viral video, a resurfaced childhood photo of RFK Jr has since emerged online, providing a clear explanation for his deep fascination with animals.
The impromptu wildlife extraction took place on a sunny, oceanfront patio belonging to Dr Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In the video shared on Kennedy's personal social media accounts, the two long, dark reptiles can be seen thrashing violently and striking out in the direction of his bare fingers.
Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz's patio.pic.twitter.com/A0iiRzOeIF
As Dr Oz asks questions about the creatures, Kennedy's wife, the actress Cheryl Hines, can be heard shouting in genuine horror from behind the camera, 'Why?' before pleading with her husband, 'Honey, let them go!' Adding, 'Bobby, please. Bobby, please. Bobby, Bobby, please.'
Despite the visible distress of his family, a laughing Kennedy safely removed the creatures from the immediate social area. According to a report by theAssociated Press, the reptiles were identified asNorth American black racer snakes, a fast-moving, non-venomous species known for its defensive temperament when cornered.
Whilst the internet reacted with a blend of incredulity and alarm, the casual handling of predatory reptiles is entirely consistent with Kennedy's upbringing. Raised as an avid outdoorsman, Kennedy was fascinated by biology and animals from his earliest years, even transforming parts of his childhood home into a small-scale zoo.
According to an archival report byPetPlace, Kennedy previously opened up about the origins of his passion. 'I just was born with the interest. I raised homing pigeons, ducks and pheasant since I was 11, and I started handling red-tailed hawks when I was 12 years old', he stated. This intensive immersion into nature eventually led him to become a licensed master falconer.
Say what you will, RFK Jr. has been remarkably on brand since childhood(That’s him showing his uncle a salamander in a jar in the Oval Office in 1961)https://t.co/fdPx6f2kAPpic.twitter.com/v2STrU1VJl
Source: International Business Times UK
