Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, “I ‘m not scared of a germ, I used to snort cocaine off toilet seats”
The U.S. Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., addressed his skepticism about covid-19 and reflected on his history of addiction during a podcast appearance.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, defended his past stance on the coronavirus. “I ‘m not scared of a germ,” said the health secretary, who is widely known for his anti-vaccine views.
“I used to snort cocaine off toilet seats,” he added during an interview on a podcast hosted by Theo Von, one of the most recognizable figures associated with the so-called “manosphere.”
Von introduced him as “a friend.” The two met in Los Angeles through a recovery group where both were addressing their respective addictions.
“I know this disease will kill me,” Kennedy Jr. recalled. He continued attending those meetings despite pandemic restrictions. “If I don’t treat it, which means for me going to meetings every day, it’s just bad for my life,” he explained about his recovery process, which he says began 43 years ago.
Kennedy’s measures to discourage vaccination
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took office as Secretary of Health in February 2025. His tenure has been marked by a decline in childhood vaccination rates, the suspension of certain vaccines, support for dismantling United States Agency for International Development, and the abrupt U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
He directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to modify its website to reference a possible link between vaccination and autism. Although he has not claimed that the two are definitively connected, he has argued that there is not enough evidence to rule out a relationship.
Kennedy has also promoted the cancellation of multimillion-dollar contracts for the development of messenger RNA vaccines, which provide instructions for the body to build defenses against a virus, arguing that they pose “more risks than benefits.”
Who is Theo Von?
Theo Von, whom Kennedy Jr. referred to as a friend, is a Louisiana-born comedian associated with the so-called manosphere, a movement that promotes traditional masculinity, opposes feminism, and claims to defend free speech against what it describes as cancel culture.
Von has described himself as “white trash.” He first gained public attention on the reality show ‘Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour’. In 2016, he launched the podcast ‘This Past Weekend’, which ranked among Spotify’s most-listened-to shows in 2024. He currently has approximately 40,400 monthly listeners, some of whom tune in to criticize content they describe as reactionary.
Among his most prominent guests have been President Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Ben Affleck, Ed Sheeran, and Vice President J.D. Vance.
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