RFK Jr. Posts Fishing Journey Pics On-line Amidst Fallout From CDC Taking pictures

A horrific taking pictures happened exterior the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s headquarters in Atlanta on Friday. The taking pictures killed one police officer and left the constructing’s workers locked down and terrified. The shooter, who unsuccessfully tried to breach the constructing, has been recognized as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White. He was found dead at the scene.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s head of the Division of Well being and Human Companies, has not been significantly good at navigating his high-profile place since taking workplace. His controversial beliefs and his uncommon insurance policies have made the bureaucrat a constant goal for criticism, and the occasions of this weekend proved to be one more alternative for Kennedy-related controversy to erupt.

Kennedy posted a public assertion concerning the taking pictures over the weekend. Earlier than he did that, nevertheless, Kennedy notably posted some footage from a fishing journey to his private X account. “Fishing the Kenae with Ninilchik Chief Ivan Encelewski Chairman of the Prepare dinner Inlet Tribal Council and Council President Gloria Oneil,” Kennedy posted on Saturday morning. Some half-hour later, Kennedy posted an announcement to his official account expressing sympathy for the traumatized CDC workers: “We’re deeply saddened by the tragic taking pictures at CDC’s Atlanta campus that took the lifetime of officer David Rose,” Kennedy wrote. “We stand together with his spouse and three kids and your complete CDC household.”

Fishing the Kenae with Ninilchik Chief Ivan Encelewski Chairman of the Prepare dinner Inlet Tribal Council and Council President Gloria Oneil
The 1948 picture
is Ivans grandpa Chief Larry Oskolkoff Sr. with a skiff load of King salmon from a Prepare dinner Inlet fish lure. The Kenae Kings are additionally in… pic.twitter.com/aVtkZTkI36

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 9, 2025

It’s price noting that public figures aren’t at all times personally accountable for the posts on their social media accounts. It’s unclear who’s working Kennedy’s socials however, whoever they’re, they dropped the ball right here. Gizmodo reached out to the HHS for remark. An HHS press launch revealed Monday afternoon stated that Kennedy had visited the CDC campus the place the assault happened and later “met privately with the widow of Officer David Rose, who courageously gave his life within the line of responsibility.” The assertion says that Kennedy “supplied his deepest condolences and reaffirmed the company’s dedication to honoring Officer Rose’s bravery, sacrifice, and repair to the nation.” Kennedy additionally reached out to staff on Saturday, not lengthy after the taking pictures happened.

Kennedy’s questionable social media selections aren’t the one factor he has been criticized for within the wake of the taking pictures, nevertheless. White is alleged to have been preoccupied with the covid-19 vaccine which, in response to MSNBC, he “blamed for his well being issues,” an assertion that was beforehand corroborated by CNN’s sources. Kennedy has notably spread skepticism about vaccines and fanned the flames of conspiracy principle across the covid pandemic. A number of medical organizations recently sued Kennedy over adjustments he made to the federal government’s vaccination suggestions. With regards to the current taking pictures, NPR has reported that some laid-off CDC staff have even stated that “Kennedy shares duty for the violence and may resign.”

Kennedy’s management on the HHS has been topic to ongoing criticism. The MAHA zealot has pursued numerous fringe agendas (like removing synthetic dyes from cereal and different processed meals and reintroducing tallow into french fries) whereas shifting to chop funding, staffing, and assets to arguably rather more essential initiatives—together with mRNA vaccine development, cancer research, and different vital health programs. Earlier this yr, the HHS carried out layoffs on the CDC that reportedly impacted hundreds of staff, though a few of these staff have since been invited again to the company.