Jimmy Kimmel found himself momentarily speechless on June 16, 2026, after hearing what he called “one of the nuttiest stories” about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., involving a snake, a pillowcase, and a swimming pool full of children.
The ABC late-night host dedicated a segment of his Tuesday night monologue to the bizarre anecdote about Kennedy, 72, which originated from an interview Kennedy’s sister gave to CNN. Kerry Kennedy, 66, appeared on host Erin Burnett’s show to share memories of her brother’s unusual behavior at her daughter’s fourth birthday party in 2008.
Kerry Kennedy recounted how she called her brother for help after discovering a snake at the birthday celebration, and he grabbed it and stuffed it into a pillowcase while holding his infant son. Kennedy then reached into the bag and let the snake bite his hand repeatedly before pulling it out to show the children, she said. He shoved his hand back into the pillowcase, where the snake bit him several more times.
After displaying the CNN clip, Kimmel couldn’t contain his amusement. He quipped about “the old snake-in-a-pillowcase trick” and asked his audience whether that qualified as fun uncle behavior.
Kerry Kennedy said that after the birthday party demonstration, the group traveled to Kennedy’s house a mile away, where numerous children were swimming in the pool. The health secretary then released the same snake that had bitten him multiple times directly into the swimming pool filled with kids.
Kimmel responded to this revelation by noting the irony that Kennedy worries about adding fluoride to water while releasing snakes into pools with children. He declared it “one of the nuttiest stories I’ve ever heard about anyone.”
The late-night host compared the incident to something a supervillain would orchestrate. He suggested it resembled something the Joker would do, or a story about actor Gary Busey on the set of The Buddy Holly Story.
Kimmel concluded his segment by reminding viewers that Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic and conspiracy theorist, now oversees children’s vaccinations as the health secretary appointed by President Donald Trump.
The monologue segment represents the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between the comedian and the Trump administration official. The two have exchanged barbs on social media in recent weeks, with the health secretary publicly challenging Kimmel on X in May 2026.
On May 25, 2026, Kennedy reposted a satirical video critiquing late-night hosts, writing that the piece explained how society reached what he called the “nader” where Kimmel could say it’s not his job to be funny. Kennedy wrote that Kimmel “was hired as a comedian, but he made himself a priest.”
Kimmel spotted a spelling error in Kennedy’s post and responded mockingly on Instagram. The host corrected Kennedy’s misspelling of “nadir” and added a sharp rebuke, telling him to get back to spreading polio.
During his May 27, 2026, show, the host addressed their exchange, explaining that Kennedy had attacked him online after sharing content from a parody website. Kimmel, 58, told his audience he had responded by pointing out the spelling mistake.
Kennedy’s affinity for snakes extends beyond the birthday party incident. The health secretary has shared multiple videos of himself handling reptiles, including a 49-second clip posted to his official X account in May 2026. That video showed Kennedy grappling with two black racer snakes while his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, warned him to be careful.
In the footage, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Trump, appeared alongside Kennedy and jokingly asked whether the snakes were mating. Hines initially mistook the non-venomous black racers for dangerous moccasins and expressed alarm before her husband corrected her. One of the snakes appeared to bite Kennedy during the video.
The snake pool story particularly resonated with Kimmel, who has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the Trump administration. The late-night host has consistently used his platform to challenge administration policies and appointments, making Kennedy an obvious target for commentary.
Kennedy’s unconventional approach to wildlife handling has generated numerous headlines since his appointment to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. His sister’s CNN appearance provided fresh material for critics who question whether someone with such judgment should oversee public health policy.
The birthday party incident occurred in 2008, when Kerry Kennedy’s daughter was approximately four years old, but the story gained new attention through the recent CNN interview and Kimmel’s coverage. The anecdote has circulated widely on social media, with many expressing disbelief at Kennedy’s decision to release a snake into a pool with children present.
For Kimmel, the story provided perfect fodder for his ongoing critique of the administration’s cabinet appointments. By highlighting Kennedy’s reckless behavior with wildlife around children, the comedian reinforced his broader argument about the qualifications of Trump’s chosen officials.
The exchange between Kimmel and Kennedy shows no signs of cooling, with both figures continuing to trade insults through their respective platforms. Whether the feud will escalate further remains to be seen, but the snake story has given Kimmel substantial ammunition for future segments criticizing the health secretary’s judgment and fitness for office.