The White House has dismissed harsh criticisms from Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, regarding his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a Health and Human Services Secretary in the Trump administration. Schlossberg, who recently announced his bid for a U.S. House seat in New York for the 2026 election, referred to Kennedy as a ‘rabid dog’ and accused him of spreading misinformation. The White House’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Schlossberg’s remarks ‘ridiculous’ and defended Kennedy, asserting that he is doing ‘a phenomenal job’ in restoring transparency to the healthcare system.
Schlossberg made these comments while appearing on MSNBC, where he criticized the Trump administration for allegedly manipulating Kennedy. ‘He put a collar on my cousin, RFK Jr., and has him there barking, spreading lies and spreading misinformation,’ Schlossberg said. The campaign highlights a growing political divide, with Schlossberg accusing his cousin of endangering public health through his decisions as a health secretary. He pointed to Kennedy’s actions, such as firing CDC vaccine panel advisors in June and the subsequent increase in measles cases in areas like West Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported the outbreak had ended in August.
Schlossberg, 32, is a Harvard Law School graduate who joined Vogue as a political correspondent in 2024. His family connection to prominent political figures adds weight to his campaign. However, the White House has not commented further on Schlossberg’s remarks, underscoring the political tensions within the administration. This incident underscores the ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration’s influence on key officials and the potential impact of familial ties in modern politics.