WASHINGTON, D.C. – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took to social media on Thursday, sharing a digitally modified Thanksgiving-themed photograph with his followers. The doctored image depicted Kennedy beside President Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., entrepreneur Elon Musk, and House Speaker Mike Johnson aboard Air Force One, all seemingly partaking in a traditional holiday meal, complete with turkey and various sides. This edited photograph quickly garnered attention as users on social media platforms recognized it as an alteration of an original photo from November 2024, which showed the group eating McDonald’s food and drinking Coca-Cola.
The original image was posted by Donald Trump Jr. and captured a candid moment of the group during travel. In contrast, the Thanksgiving edit maintained the same body positioning and attire for all individuals, but the meal components were notably different. The new version showed Kennedy with stuffing, and Trump Jr. holding a slice of pie, replacing the large McDonald’s fries seen in the genuine photo.
The playful alteration by Kennedy, who did not share his actual Thanksgiving plans, contrasts with his last year's publicized health-conscious approach to the holiday. In 2023, Kennedy shared a video of himself deep-frying a turkey in beef tallow, an activity he undertook barefoot, emphasizing both the deliciousness and the risky nature of the process.
Kennedy's lighthearted social media post comes amid a more serious backdrop. Earlier in the month, he made headlines following revelations in an upcoming book by former New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi. The book, titled "American Canto," alleges that Kennedy, despite his many years of sobriety, confessed to using powerful psychedelic drugs, including dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
This news surfaced shortly after Kennedy, in his capacity as Health Secretary, launched an NIH study to explore the potential connection between certain psychiatric medications, including SSRIs, and violent behavior. This investigation follows the tragic events at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where a young man's shooting rampage resulted in the loss of young lives and several injuries.
While Kennedy’s edited Thanksgiving image may serve as a light-hearted internet moment, it sits within a complex narrative of his public and private life, touching on topics from health and well-being to national tragedies and the exploration of mental health treatment options.
