Robert F Kennedy Jr. Grabs Two Snakes Bare-Handed, Appears To Get Bitten In Viral Clip

Last Updated:May 27, 2026, 05:13 IST

The viral footage is the latest in series of unusual wildlife-related moments involving the Health Secretary, whose fascination with animals has repeatedly drawn public attention.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has once again triggered a social media frenzy after posting a video of himself bare-handedly wrangling two live snakes outside a beachfront home in Florida.

The video, shared Tuesday on X, shows Kennedy crouching barefoot on a concrete patio before grabbing the two snakes by their tails as they slither across the ground. The property belongs to Mehmet Oz, better known as Dr Oz, who currently serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Cheryl cheerleads the removal of a pair of Black Racers from Dr Oz’s patio," Kennedy wrote in the caption, referring to his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, who filmed the encounter.

In the 49-second clip, Kennedy — dressed in a button-down shirt, trousers and socks but without shoes — is seen lifting the snakes toward the camera as they twist violently in his hands. At one point, one of the reptiles appears to suddenly snap backward and bite his hand.

When someone off-camera asks whether the snakes are biting him, Kennedy casually replies, “Yeah," before smiling directly into the camera.

The viral footage is the latest in a long series of unusual wildlife-related moments involving the Health Secretary, whose fascination with animals has repeatedly drawn public attention.

Kennedy has recently faced renewed scrutiny following revelations from historical diary entries highlighted in a new biography. Among the most controversial allegations is a claim that he once stopped his car on the side of a New York highway to remove the penis of a dead raccoon in order to “study" it later, while his children reportedly waited in the vehicle.

What Are Black Racers?

The snakes featured in Kennedy’s video are believed to be Southern Black Racers, a common nonvenomous species found across the southeastern United States, especially in Florida.

Known scientifically as Southern Black Racer, the snakes are slender, fast-moving reptiles recognised for their glossy black bodies, grey underbellies and white markings around the chin and throat.

Black Racers are active daytime hunters and are commonly found in suburban neighbourhoods, gardens, coastal areas and open fields. Although nonvenomous, they can become aggressive when threatened and are known to bite defensively if handled.

Wildlife experts generally advise against attempting to catch or handle wild snakes without proper training, even when the species is considered harmless.

News world Robert F Kennedy Jr. Grabs Two Snakes Bare-Handed, Appears To Get Bitten In Viral Clip

Read More