The man in charge of America’s public health policy proudly boasted on a podcast about snorting cocaine off toilet seats.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Secretary of Health and Human Services, made the claim during an interview with podcaster Theo Von on Thursday. Kennedy was explaining why he insisted on attending 12-step meetings in person during the pandemic rather than worrying about viral infections.
“I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats,” Kennedy said, as if this somehow justified his cavalier attitude toward infectious disease. He went on to explain that addiction was the real disease that would “kill him” if he didn’t attend daily recovery meetings.
For context on how far American politics has degraded: Just last week marked the 10-year anniversary of Jeb Bush’s “please clap” moment—a mild awkwardness that effectively ended his political career. Kennedy, meanwhile, will almost certainly face zero consequences for casually admitting to illegal drug use on a major podcast.
This is the same man whose health conspiracies have already done real damage. During a measles outbreak in Texas last year, Kennedy refused to endorse the measles vaccine, instead recommending that susceptible residents self-medicate with vitamins. He’s replaced independent medical experts on the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel with a hodgepodge of vaccine skeptics. He overhauled the child vaccination schedule without even notifying his own staffers—a decision that could affect vaccine access and insurance coverage for millions of American families.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr:
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 12, 2026
“I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.” pic.twitter.com/aqKZTEujXk
Last month, Kennedy unveiled his department’s reimagined food pyramid: an upside-down triangle where butter, steak, and cheese play leading roles.
The 72-year-old health secretary’s strong immune system, apparently forged through years of railing lines off porcelain thrones, is now guiding health policy for 330 million Americans.