Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health reform advocate and Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, was spotted in an eyebrow-raising moment aboard Trump Force One.
The 70-year-old was seen holding a McDonald’s Big Mac and a Coca-Cola—a meal famously favored by President-elect Donald Trump—despite his longstanding crusade for healthier public food policies.
The snapshot, taken during a flight to UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, shows Kennedy sitting alongside Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr., all appearing delighted with their fast-food spread. Even House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to make it into the photo, though he skipped the McDonald’s meal.
RFK Jr. on Campaign Food Woes
Kennedy has previously criticized the quality of food served during campaign events. On a recent podcast, he described it as “poison,” lamenting, “You have a choice between KFC or Big Macs—if you’re lucky. The rest is just inedible.”
His critique extended to Trump’s eating habits, which he called “really bad.” The irony of the photo wasn’t lost on observers, given Kennedy’s vocal push for reforming the U.S. food system and eliminating preservatives, industrial chemicals, and other additives he deems harmful.
Kennedy’s Health Policy Vision
After dropping out of the presidential race in August to endorse Trump, Kennedy’s reform agenda has become a key feature of the incoming administration. His appointment to HHS fulfills Trump’s promise to let Kennedy “go wild” on public health.
Kennedy has vowed to crack down on additives in food and chemicals in water supplies, calling for transparency in pharmaceutical practices while maintaining that he won’t “take away anybody’s vaccines.” He’s also teased plans to discourage water fluoridation in the name of public health.
Trump’s Confidence in RFK Jr.
In a social media post, Trump praised Kennedy’s health reform vision:
“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives.”
Trump added that Kennedy’s leadership would “restore Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research” and work to “Make America Great and Healthy Again.”
While the photo of Kennedy with a Big Mac raised eyebrows, his role as HHS Secretary signals a potential shake-up in the nation’s approach to health and wellness under the Trump administration.
