Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded to critics who reacted to a snake-handling video he posted by sharing another clip.
Kennedy sparked thousands of reactions after posting a video that went viral, now sporting over 7 million views on X, as he wrangled with a pair of black North American racer snakes. The bare-handed encounter reportedly occurred on Dr. Mehmet Oz’s patio with his wife, Cheryl Hines, heard in the background expressing her concerns.
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
While black racer snakes are reportedly nonvenomous, RFK’s handling of the reptiles, which kept biting him, seemed to terrify many viewers of the video as well as Hines.
He responded by posting another video on Wednesday.
“In response to the many comments about venomous snakes, this video shows how Cheryl and I handled a recent rattlesnake rescue,” he wrote in the caption.
The clip shows Kennedy sitting in his home office before someone comes in to alert him that there is a rattlesnake in the driveway.
In response to the many comments about venomous snakes, this video shows how Cheryl and I handled a recent rattlesnake rescue. pic.twitter.com/3wRIXmQySV
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 27, 2026
“Hold on, guys. I’ll be back in a flash,” Kennedy says and heads out, bucket and net in hand.
After a bit of a confrontation with the snake, RFK manages to drop it into the bucket as onlookers can be heard saying, “Amazing!”
The 72-year-old then dumps the snake out and eventually grabs it behind the head as he explains about the rattlesnake.
“His fangs are in there. I don’t want to touch them,” he said. “This is a beautiful snake. This is a Western Diamondback. You can tell by these rings at the end of his tail.”
Asking his wife to bring a pillowcase, Hines is adamant that she will watch from a distance.
“No, no, no, no. Honey, no,” she says. “I’ll watch it from here.”
Kennedy drops the still rattling snake into the pillowcase as Hines gives a shout.
“All safe,” he smiles as he ties off the case and then is seen releasing the snake back into the wild.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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