Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted a bizarre video Tuesday showing himself removing two black racer snakes from Dr. Oz’s patio with his bare hands while his wife, Cheryl Hines, watched in alarm.
The Health and Human Services secretary shared the clip on X, writing that Hines was “cheerleading” as he removed the snakes.
In the video, Kennedy can be seen crouching near the patio wall before grabbing the snakes as they try to get away.
Hines, standing nearby, appeared visibly nervous and repeatedly urged him not to handle them.
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“Honey, honey… why?” she could be heard saying as Kennedy moved toward the snakes.
After grabbing the reptiles, Kennedy held them up while they repeatedly bit his hands.
“Black snakes, they’re biting me,” he said in the clip.
Hines reacted by telling him he was “nuts” and repeatedly pleading for him to stop.
Black racers are nonvenomous snakes commonly found in parts of the United States, including Florida. They are not considered dangerous to humans, but they may bite when handled or threatened.
Kennedy appeared unfazed by the bites and later presented the moment as a routine snake-removal job.
The video quickly drew attention online, partly because of Kennedy’s history of unusual wildlife stories.
Kennedy, a longtime environmental lawyer and falconer, has often spoken about his interest in animals and the outdoors.
He also drew national attention in 2024 after acknowledging that he once left a dead bear cub in Central Park. Another widely discussed story involved allegations that he transported the head of a dead beached whale years earlier.
The snake video adds another unusual wildlife moment to Kennedy’s public image, this time with Hines serving as the alarmed voice of caution in the background.
Why It Matters
The clip is not a major policy story, but it is likely to spread because it combines a high-profile Trump administration official, a celebrity spouse and an unusual wildlife encounter. It also reinforces Kennedy’s long-running public reputation for eccentric animal-related stories.
What Comes Next
The video is likely to keep circulating on social media, especially among Kennedy critics and supporters who view his wildlife encounters as part of his unusual political brand.
Kennedy posted the clip on X, showing himself removing two black racer snakes from Dr. Oz’s patio as Cheryl Hines urged him to stop.
Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio. pic.twitter.com/A0iiRzOeIF
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 26, 2026
