Instant mockery as RFK Jr dodges reporter's question on flesh-eating parasite

The internet mocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and officials after they dodged a reporter's question during a press conference on Monday, refusing to discuss screwworms.

Kennedy and other officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education announced that 19 medical schools in the United States had signed the Trump administration’s Nutrition Education Pledge. During the press conference in Washington, D.C., a reporter asked about the flesh-eating parasite outbreak.

"Thank you, Secretary Kennedy and Under Secretary Kent. You both talked about federal funding for the medical schools. What happens if they don't meet the 48-hour federal funding requirement ... and also, Secretary Kennedy, if you can answer this question. What would the CDC be prepared to do if there is a human case of the new world screwworm?" the reporter asked.

The internet noticed Kennedy and the other Trump administration officials were less than thrilled by the question.

"RFK Jr and his cronies refuse to take a question about screwworm during a press conference," journalist Aaron Rupar, who has more than 1.1 million followers, wrote on X.

"I mean we know he’s cool with brain worms and dead animals and with screwing so seems natural he’d be cool with screwworms," virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, who has more than 501,000 followers, wrote on X.

"All the attention on the screwworm is making RFK Jr.'s brainworm jealous," progressive account Missing The Point, which has more than 33,000 followers, wrote on Bluesky.

"Interesting that @SecKennedy didn’t take the opportunity to highlight all the work @US_FDA has been doing on screwworm. Perhaps, as per @SherylNYT reporting, he’s out of the loop and unaware. But he should know. And in case you are curious," Sarah Despres, a public health expert and advocate, wrote on X. Despres also shared updates from the FDA involving its current animal drugs and additional information about the parasitic fly and how public health experts have responded.