Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself under fire from ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on June 16, 2026, after a story surfaced about the health secretary releasing a snake into a swimming pool filled with children.
The tale emerged when Kerry Kennedy, 66, Kennedy’s sister, recounted the incident during an appearance on host Erin Burnett’s CNN show. She described how her brother, 72, behaved at her daughter’s fourth birthday party in 2008, prompting Kimmel to declare it “one of the nuttiest stories I’ve ever heard about anyone.”
According to Kerry Kennedy’s account, she contacted her brother after spotting a snake at the birthday celebration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrived and grabbed the reptile, stuffing it into a pillowcase while holding his infant son, she said. He then reached into the bag and let the snake bite his hand repeatedly before pulling it out to show the children. Kennedy shoved his hand back into the pillowcase, where the snake bit him several more times.
The demonstration didn’t end there. Kerry Kennedy said that after the birthday party, the group traveled to Kennedy’s house a mile away, where numerous children were swimming in the pool. The health secretary then released the same snake that had bitten him multiple times directly into the swimming pool filled with kids.
After showing the bizarre anecdote clip during his Tuesday night monologue, Kimmel found himself momentarily speechless. He quipped about “the old snake-in-a-pillowcase trick” and asked his audience whether that qualified as fun uncle behavior.
The late-night host didn’t hold back his criticism, noting the irony that Kennedy worries about adding fluoride to water while releasing snakes into pools with children. Kimmel compared the incident to something a supervillain would orchestrate. He suggested it resembled something the Joker would do, or a story about actor Gary Busey on the set of “The Buddy Holly Story.”
Kimmel wrapped up his segment by reminding viewers that Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist, now oversees children’s vaccinations as the health secretary appointed by President Donald Trump.
This latest broadside represents another installment in an ongoing feud between the comedian and the Trump administration official. The two have exchanged barbs on social media in recent weeks, with the health secretary publicly challenging Kimmel on X in May 2026.
On May 24, 2026, Kennedy reposted a satirical text thread critiquing late-night hosts, writing that the piece explained how society reached what he called the “nader” where Kimmel could say it’s not his job to be funny. Kennedy wrote that Kimmel “was hired as a comedian, but he made himself a priest.” The quote Kennedy attributed to Kimmel — “it’s not my job to be funny” — originated from a satirical Babylon Bee article and was never actually said by Kimmel.
Kimmel spotted a spelling error in Kennedy’s post and responded mockingly on Instagram. The host corrected Kennedy’s misspelling of “nadir” and added a sharp rebuke, telling him to get back to spreading polio.
During his May 27, 2026, show, the host addressed their exchange, explaining that Kennedy had attacked him online after sharing content from a parody website. Kimmel told his audience he had responded by pointing out the spelling mistake.
The birthday party incident occurred in 2008, when Kerry Kennedy’s daughter was approximately four years old, but the story gained new attention through the recent CNN interview and Kimmel’s coverage. The anecdote has circulated widely on social media, with many expressing disbelief at Kennedy’s decision to release a snake into a pool with children present.
Kennedy’s affinity for snakes extends beyond the birthday party incident. The health secretary has shared multiple videos of himself handling reptiles, including a 49-second clip posted to his official X account in May 2026. That video showed Kennedy grappling with two black racer snakes while his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, warned him to be careful.
In the footage, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Trump, appeared alongside Kennedy and jokingly asked whether the snakes were mating. Hines initially mistook the non-venomous black racers for dangerous moccasins and expressed alarm before her husband corrected her. One of the snakes appeared to bite Kennedy during the video.
Kennedy’s unconventional approach to wildlife handling has generated numerous headlines since his appointment to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. His sister’s CNN appearance provided fresh material for critics who question whether someone with such judgment should oversee public health policy.
The snake pool story particularly resonated with Kimmel, who has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the Trump administration. The late-night host has consistently used his platform to challenge administration policies and appointments, making Kennedy an obvious target for commentary.
The exchange between Kimmel and Kennedy shows no signs of cooling, with both figures continuing to trade insults through their respective platforms. Whether the feud will escalate further remains to be seen, but the snake story has given Kimmel substantial ammunition for future segments criticizing the health secretary’s judgment and fitness for office.
