The White House issued a swift and forceful rebuke on Wednesday following a series of scathing remarks from Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, who publicly condemned his cousin, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The intra-family political dispute erupted as Schlossberg, a scion of the nation’s most famous Democratic dynasty, announced his own entry into politics.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the comments Schlossberg made earlier in the day on MSNBC. “I don’t even think such ridiculous comments are worth responding to,” Leavitt stated to reporters. She unequivocally defended the HHS Secretary, adding, “Obviously, those things are not true. And Secretary Kennedy is doing a phenomenal job bringing transparency and the gold standard of silent science back to our health care system.”
Leavitt’s comments were a direct reaction to Schlossberg’s appearance, where he announced his candidacy for New York’s 12th Congressional District in the 2026 election, a seat currently held by long-time Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. During the interview, Schlossberg did not mince words, employing harsh language to describe his cousin’s role within the Trump administration. He claimed President Trump is “obsessed” with the Kennedy family and suggested this was the motivation behind RFK Jr.’s cabinet appointment.
“He put a collar on my cousin, RFK Jr., and has him there barking, spreading lies and spreading misinformation,” Schlossberg asserted. He later compared the HHS Secretary to a “rabid dog,” escalating the intra-family criticism to a new level of public intensity.
Beyond the metaphorical attacks, Schlossberg leveled specific policy-based accusations against Secretary Kennedy. “RFK Jr. is a dangerous person who is making life-and-death decisions as secretary of Health and Human Services,” he said. He pointed to RFK Jr.’s decision in June to dismiss advisors serving on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory panel as a primary example of his concerns.
Furthermore, Schlossberg attempted to link his cousin’s leadership to a recent rise in measles cases, specifically mentioning an outbreak in West Texas. However, records from the Texas Department of State Health Services confirm that health officials had declared that specific outbreak to be over in August. In a final jab, Schlossberg added, “I mean, when he’s not making infomercials for Steak ‘n Shake and Coca-Cola, he’s spreading misinformation and lies that are leading to deaths around the country.”
The Department of Health and Human Services had not issued a public statement or responded to requests for comment regarding Schlossberg’s accusations at the time of the White House briefing.
The public feud highlights a significant political schism within the Kennedy family. Schlossberg, 32, is the son of Caroline Kennedy, who has served as a diplomat under Democratic administrations. A 2022 graduate of Harvard Law School, he has been working as a political correspondent for Vogue since the beginning of 2024. His congressional bid signals a commitment to the Democratic Party, putting him in direct ideological opposition to his cousin, who accepted a prominent role in a Republican administration.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime environmental attorney, became a controversial figure for his public skepticism of vaccines, a position that put him at odds with the mainstream scientific community and many members of his own family long before he joined the Trump cabinet. His appointment as HHS Secretary was seen by many as a move to appeal to a base skeptical of federal health institutions.
The White House’s robust defense of RFK Jr. signals the administration’s continued support for its health secretary despite the high-profile criticism. Leavitt’s praise of his efforts to bring “transparency and the gold standard of silent science” to the healthcare system directly counters the narrative pushed by Schlossberg and other critics who accuse Kennedy of undermining public health. The clash is not just a personal family matter but a representation of the deep polarization in American politics, where even storied political families are not immune to public division over policy, partisanship, and personal loyalty. As Schlossberg embarks on his political career, his relationship with his cousin is poised to remain a subject of intense public and media scrutiny.
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