Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. found himself in a shouting match with Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., during a budget hearing on Thursday after the congresswoman questioned him about previous comments he made about Black children during a 2024 podcast interview.
The confrontation unfolded when Sewell confronted Kennedy about remarks he made during the "Earn Your Leisure" podcast while he was a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. In that interview, Kennedy discussed his plan to fight the drug epidemic by creating "rehabilitation facilities" in rural areas, describing spaces where young people could undergo a form of "reparenting."
What the Left Is Saying
Sewell directly challenged Kennedy on his qualifications and his previous statements. "Mr. Secretary, you've already admitted that you are not a board-certified physician, and you've already admitted you did not go to medical school. Have you ever reparented or parented, I should say, a Black child?" Sewell asked.
The congresswoman pressed Kennedy on specific remarks from the podcast, reading back his statement that "every Black kid is now just standardly put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence." Sewell repeatedly accused Kennedy of making the remarks, while Kennedy denied ever saying the word "reparented."
"You absolutely said it," Sewell responded when Kennedy claimed he did not know what the phrase meant.
Sewell also pressed Kennedy on whether he had ever parented or reparented a Black child, asking what factors the federal government should consider when "reparenting a Black child who has been on ADHD or ADD medication."
What the Right Is Saying
Kennedy denied making the remarks, claiming he did not know what "reparented" meant and accusing Sewell of "making up" the comments. "I am absolutely not making this up," Sewell responded.
An HHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Kennedy's comments on the podcast were taken "out of context." The spokesperson explained that prior to his time as secretary, Kennedy "described these communities as spaces where individuals, particularly young people facing alienation, mental health challenges, and rising rates of despair could undergo a form of 'reparenting.'"
The HHS statement noted that "in psychotherapy terms, reparenting involves developing the emotional regulation, discipline, boundaries and self-worth that may not have been established in childhood, through consistent care, accountability and supportive relationships."
What the Numbers Show
The podcast interview occurred in 2024 when Kennedy was still a presidential candidate. During the conversation, Kennedy outlined campaign promises including plans to create "rehabilitation facilities" in rural areas that would mirror "wellness farms" he encountered during his time in the Peace Corps.
The budget hearing marked one of the first times a Democratic lawmaker has publicly confronted Kennedy about his pre-confirmation comments since he took office as HHS Secretary. This confrontation comes amid broader scrutiny of Kennedy's tenure at the department, with Michigan Democrat Rep. Stevens citing "health care chaos" in efforts to impeach Kennedy.
The Bottom Line
The shouting match highlights ongoing tensions between congressional Democrats and the HHS Secretary over his past statements. Sewell's confrontation suggests Democratic lawmakers intend to continue pressing Kennedy on comments made during his presidential campaign.
The dispute centers on interpretation: Sewell and other Democrats view Kennedy's podcast remarks as problematic and emblematic of broader concerns about his qualifications, while the Trump administration has defended the comments as taken out of context. What to watch for: whether additional lawmakers pursue similar lines of questioning in future hearings, and whether the White House or HHS provides further clarification on Kennedy's views regarding pediatric healthcare in Black communities.