Robert F. Kennedy Jr: Health Secretary Sparks Controversy, From Sickle Cell to Skinned Cubs

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remains a lightning rod for controversy and headlines, especially in his current role as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Just days ago, Kennedy made a splash in Charleston, South Carolina, addressing the National Conference of Insurance Legislators and focusing on expanding access to treatment for sickle cell disease. He spotlighted South Carolina's leadership in shaping the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model, receiving a standing ovation from state lawmakers but also drawing a small group of protesters who questioned his commitment to science and vaccine policy, with one critic saying, "He doesn't understand or care about science. It's killing kids," according to ABC News 4.

Earlier in April, Kennedy made headlines in Utah, where he praised local lawmakers for passing legislation that bans fluoride from water systems, aligning with his "Make America Healthy Again"—or MAHA—initiative. PBS Utah covered his visit, where Kennedy shared the stage with other Trump administration cabinet members and celebrated Utah’s approach to public health policy. His visit also coincided with local debates over labor rights and tariffs, but it was the health policy headlines that stuck.

On the national stage, Kennedy has been making the rounds on his MAHA tour, touting his movement's mission to tackle the epidemic of chronic childhood illness and overhaul the nation's approach to health, as highlighted by recent HHS press releases. His official channels, including the Kennedy24 campaign site and Instagram, continue to promote his brand and messages, featuring family updates and political calls to action.

But as ever, the headlines are not all friendly. PBS aired a critical fact-check on Kennedy’s remarks on autism after he declared that "autism destroys families" and described children with autism in what experts called a grossly exaggerated and stigmatizing manner during an April press conference. Medical authorities and individuals on the spectrum pushed back, pointing out that Kennedy’s claims do not represent the majority experience of autistic people.

Meanwhile, social media has been buzzing about an offbeat, even bizarre, story involving Kennedy. The Independent reported on a video clip that went viral, in which Kennedy describes collecting, skinning, and intending to eat a bear cub killed in a road accident. The incident, filmed after an interview with Roseanne Barr, was later included in a New Yorker profile and set off a wave of reactions on X, with many users expressing outrage or disbelief at the anecdote.

While some of Kennedy’s activities are par for the course for a health secretary—policy speeches, program launches, conference appearances—the continued controversies, both in public comments and viral social media moments, ensure he remains a prominent and polarizing figure. With critics and supporters watching his every move, every utterance, and every tweet, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is still very much at the center of the nation’s political and cultural conversation.

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