The RFK Jr snake video stunned viewers after the HHS secretary calmly grabbed two snakes on Dr. Oz’s patio.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went viral Tuesday after a video showed him bending down and grabbing two black racer snakes outside the home of Dr. Mehmet Oz.
The clip, posted online on May 26, 2026, showed Kennedy wearing a blue shirt and slacks as he handled the fast moving snakes. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, could be heard reacting nervously as Kennedy picked them up and moved them away.
Early social media posts described the location as Turks and Caicos, but multiple reports later identified the scene as Dr. Oz’s porch in Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Oz currently serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under Kennedy and President Donald Trump, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Kennedy Handles Snakes as Video Spreads Online
The video lasted less than a minute but quickly drew attention because of Kennedy’s calm reaction. The snakes appeared to bite or strike at him while he held them, but Kennedy told others nearby that they were not dangerous.
People reported that the snakes were black racers and that they were mating when Kennedy picked them up. The outlet also reported that Kennedy corrected Hines after she appeared to confuse the snakes with a more dangerous species.
Kennedy is listed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the 26th secretary of HHS. His official biography also highlights his long background in environmental law and conservation work.
That background helped explain why the unusual moment did not surprise some of his supporters. Fans praised the Cabinet official as calm, fearless, and comfortable around wildlife.
What Are Black Racer Snakes?
Black racers are nonvenomous snakes found in parts of the southeastern United States, including Florida. They are fast, alert, and often try to flee when people approach.
University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences says southern black racers may bite when handled, but the bites are not venomous. UF experts also say the bite can draw blood and should be cleaned with soap and water. More information is available from UF IFAS Extension.
The moment in the video showed why wildlife experts often warn people not to pick up snakes unless they know the species and understand the risk. Even nonvenomous snakes can bite when frightened or grabbed.
The snakes in Kennedy’s video did not appear to cause a serious injury. HHS did not immediately issue a public statement about the viral clip.
Fans Praised Him While Critics Mocked the Moment
The reaction online split quickly. Supporters called Kennedy a “legend” and praised his hands on confidence around wildlife.
Critics saw the video differently. Some mocked the sight of a Cabinet secretary wrestling snakes on a patio while holding one of the most powerful health jobs in the federal government.
The clip also gained attention because Kennedy and Oz have become two visible figures in the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” health agenda. CMS says Oz leads the agency that oversees Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and HealthCare.gov.
The video gave the public a strange contrast. One moment showed top health officials tied to major national policy. The next showed Kennedy crouching on a porch and calmly lifting two snakes by hand.
Kennedy’s Wildlife Encounters Keep Drawing Attention
Kennedy’s history with animals has followed him through public life. His official HHS biography points to decades of environmental work, including his role with Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance.
But some past animal related stories have also brought controversy. During the 2024 campaign, Kennedy acknowledged leaving a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park years earlier. He later said the incident was meant as a joke after he found the animal dead on the road.
Those past stories helped the snake video spread faster. For supporters, it added to Kennedy’s image as an outdoorsman. For critics, it revived questions about judgment and public image.
A Viral Moment With a Larger Political Edge
The RFK Jr snake video may seem like a brief social media oddity. But it landed at a time when Kennedy remains one of the most watched and debated members of Trump’s Cabinet.
His role at HHS puts him at the center of national fights over health policy, chronic disease, federal programs, and public trust in government health agencies. A strange 49 second wildlife video can travel fast when the person in it is already a political lightning rod.
For now, the clip has done what viral moments often do. It gave supporters a reason to cheer, critics a reason to laugh, and millions of viewers a strange image they did not expect from a sitting health secretary.
One thing is clear. Kennedy moved the snakes safely away, and the internet turned the moment into another chapter in his unusual public story.