Wednesday, May 27, 2026, saw a peculiar Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington. Among the officials present was Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Known for his unique initiatives, Kennedy has now ventured beyond traditional public health duties.
For over five decades, Lorne Michaels, creator of “Saturday Night Live”, dominated the comedic take on current events. But under Donald Trump’s administration, reality surpassed satire. Extravagant features like gold-covered Oval Office walls and unconventional policies provided endless material for comedians.
Yet, Kennedy’s latest project outshines even these absurdities. With White House approval, Kennedy introduced his own cooking show on HBO. In the promotional trailer, he announced, “Hi, I’m Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., your HHS Secretary. Welcome to the Real Food Show…Let’s get cooking.”
The premiere episode features Kennedy and chef Andrew Gruel in Huntington Beach, California, promoting seafood over beef. They demonstrate making wild Alaska salmon cakes, budget-friendly at less than $5 per serving by using canned salmon.
However, the video is challenging to watch. Kennedy’s unfamiliarity with cooking is evident, as he passively watches Gruel, only occasionally assisting. His suggestions lack clarity and insight, equating his presence to that of a robot.
His speech is often unclear, particularly when boasting about “flipping the food pyramid” without sufficient explanation. Moreover, Kennedy’s plan to lower beef costs by enlarging cattle herds contradicts the episode’s focus on seafood consumption.
Questions arise regarding his priorities. During the past week, public health crises demanded attention: 2,371 reported measles cases, a salmonella egg recall, a Cyclospora outbreak from lettuce, and rising Covid infections in 41 states. These issues merit focused attention from the HHS Secretary.
Despite Kennedy’s culinary enthusiasm, the public questions his expertise. His past memoir confessions reveal a peculiar relationship with food, including an anecdote about skinning roadside bear carcasses and extracting a raccoon’s penis. Family testimonies further raise eyebrows with tales of Kennedy blending mice and chickens, and decapitating a whale with a chainsaw.
HHS has not disclosed the duration or frequency of Kennedy’s cooking show. Many hope he refocuses on his primary responsibilities. With ample expert TV chefs like Ina Garten available, Kennedy’s culinary ventures seem redundant.
Bill Press, host of The Bill Press Pod, authored “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”