Jimmy Kimmel on Trump Tapping RFK Jr. as Health Secretary: ‘Who Better to Be in Charge Than a Guy Whose Brain Was Partially Devoured by a Worm?’

Ellise Shafer

15 November 2024 at 6:01 am·2-min read

Jimmy Kimmel reacted to Donald Trump nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a prominent vaccine skeptic — as secretary of health and human services during his “Jimmy Kimmel Live” monologue on Thursday night, saying the decision is “heavy on the F.”

“Who better to be in charge of health and humans than a guy whose brain was partially devoured by a worm?” Kimmel said, referring to RFK Jr.’s revelation that a brain scan abnormality “was caused by a worm that got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died,” as the New York Times reported in May.

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RFK Jr., the son of late U.S. attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy, also ran for president in the 2024 election — initially against Joe Biden in the Democratic primary before launching an independent campaign and eventually endorsing Trump. Beyond his anti-vaccine views, RFK Jr. was also embroiled in a scandal in September when New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi admitted to having a “personal relationship” with him.

“This tells you all you need to know about our country right now: RFK got caught having phone sex with a reported and she was fired,” Kimmel continued. “What happened to him? They made him secretary of health and human services. Why not? I mean, if Matt Gaetz is going to be attorney general, bring in Gary Busey to run the CIA. Go for broke!”

Gaetz was the subject of Kimmel’s ire during Wednesday night’s episode, when he blasted the former Congressman, who until his resignation to pursue the attorney general position was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. He has also been the subject of a federal investigation for allegedly sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied all allegations against him.

“You know, in a lot of jobs being investigated for sex trafficking underage girls would hurt your chance for advancement,” Kimmel said. “But in the Trump administration, you can list it on your résumé under special skills.”

Watch Kimmel’s full monologue below.

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