LOADINGERROR LOADING
Maybe some men are just too emotional to be in politics.
On Tuesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got so enraged during a Senate hearing that a fellow Republican had to intervene like an adult trying to quell a toddler’s big feelings.
The moment occurred after Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) slammed Kennedy for drastic staffing and funding cuts at his department as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. After describing some of these cuts as “illegal,” she proceeded to call out Kennedy’s incompetence by saying his previous committee testimony left her “pretty confused and concerned” about what is actually happening at HHS.
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“You repeatedly claimed staffing and funding cuts that have been reported on publicly — and even confirmed by your department staff — are not happening,” Murray said. “So either you are lying or you’re not the one making the decisions.”
She then asked him a pretty straightforward question on child care subsidies for low-income working families:
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“Secretary Kennedy, whose decision was it to withhold child care and development block grant funding?”
In response to Murray’s question, Kennedy — who is best known for peddling debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines — busted out the classic MAGA tactic of criticizing former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Fully aware that Kennedy was deflecting, Murray injected a few times in an attempt to get him back on track, but Kennedy eventually snapped.
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“I want to point out something, Senator, you’ve presided here, I think, for 32 years. You’ve presided over the destruction of the health of the American people,” he said, raising his voice.
“Seriously?” Murray said as Kennedy continued his rant.

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“Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job!” he exclaimed.
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“Mr. Secretary, seriously,” Murray said. But Kennedy kept up the finger-pointing.
“What have you done about it? What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease?” he shouted. “What have you done about the epidemic of chronic disease?”
That’s when a fellow Republican decided she had had enough of this nonsense.
“Mr. Secretary, I would ask you to hold back and let the senator ask the questions,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), the chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee where Kennedy was testifying.
After that hullabaloo, Murray calmly asked her question again on whose decision it was to withhold child care funding, and lo and behold, Kennedy’s answer was pretty basic.
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“That was made by my department,” Kennedy said.
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 20, 2025HHS Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy): "You presided over the destruction of the health of the American people. Our people are now the sickest people in the world because you have not done your job.
Sen. @PattyMurray: "Mr. Secretary, seriously?!? Mr. Secretary, seriously?!?" pic.twitter.com/IDJWLCwQdp
When a clip of Murray and Kennedy’s verbal sparring match made it onto X, formerly Twitter, left-leaning users were unimpressed by HHS secretary.
“RFK Jr. fell apart faster than a dollar store lawn chair at a Fourth of July barbecue,” one X user wrote. “If answering a basic childcare question sends him into verbal vapor lock, maybe he’s better suited for a wellness podcast on dial-up radio.”
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“RFK Jr unwound faster than an alibi about a lost Las Vegas weekend,” another user joked.
“RFK Jr.’s meltdown over a basic childcare question shows he’s unfit for leadership,” said another user. “If he can’t handle Senate scrutiny, how can he manage national health crises? His deflection tactics are a disgrace.”
Kennedy’s time as health secretary has been far from impressive.
During testimony before a House subcommittee last week, Kennedy refused to answer questions about the safety and effectiveness of major types of vaccines before uttering one of the most terrifying things the nation’s top health official could say.
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“I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me,” he said.
Murray, unlike Kennedy, has no trouble clearly expressing her views and did so with a post on X Tuesday after their intense interaction.
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“RFK Jr. is a shameless liar and, candidly, an insane conspiracy theorist,” Murray wrote Tuesday. “He’s fired the people who monitor bird flu. He’s fired food safety inspectors. He’s firing NIH clinical staff—and he’s cutting cancer research. This grifter is making America LESS healthy & LESS safe.”
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