• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Politicspublic health

RFK Jr. is pictured with a McDonald’s burger as Trump Jr. says ‘Make America Healthy Again starts TOMORROW’

Jason Ma
By
Jason Ma
Jason Ma
Weekend Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
Jason Ma
By
Jason Ma
Jason Ma
Weekend Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 17, 2024, 12:59 PM ET
Rebecca Noble—Getty Images

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to lead the Health and Human Services department, may have to get used to fast food if he serves in the administration.

Recommended Video

Kennedy was pictured holding what appeared to be a Big Mac while seated at a table on the “Trump Force One” airplane as he, President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr. prepared to dig into a McDonald’s feast. House Speaker Mike Johnson was also in the photo but wasn’t seated.

On Sunday, Trump Jr. posted a photo of the gathering on X, saying “Make America Healthy Again starts TOMORROW,” presumably after everyone is done eating their burgers and fries.

https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1858136498530374074

While Trump is famously fond of McDonald’s and even dished out fries at one franchise during his campaign, Kennedy has advocated healthy eating while he also has been an anti-vaccine activist and a critic of fluoride in drinking water.

As far as his own eating habits, RFK Jr. has said he avoids processed foods but recently lamented the limited options available while campaigning and traveling.

“Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that airplane is, like, just poison,” he told podcaster Joe Polish last week. “You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice. You’re either given KFC or Big Macs.”

And that’s if you’re “lucky,” Kennedy added, as “the rest of the stuff I consider kind of inedible.”

The Trump transition team didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Saturday night, Kennedy joined Trump, Musk, Johnson, and Trump Jr. to watch a UFC fight at Madison Square Garden, where the former and soon-to-be president was greeted with cheers.

Meanwhile, RFK Jr.’s nomination as Health and Human Services secretary has greeted with a lot of push-back as well as fears of a mass culling of federal workers and agencies Kennedy deems unnecessary.

But Dan Troy, a former chief counsel for the FDA during President George W. Bush’s first term, said there’s unlikely to be “seismic changes” within the agency.

“Who are you going to put in place?” he told Reuters. “Who has the technical expertise to write these rules that are going to really change the paradigm?” 

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
Jason Ma
By Jason MaWeekend Editor

Jason Ma is the weekend editor at Fortune, where he covers markets, the economy, finance, and housing.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

Sean Duffy speaks behind a podium. An American flag hangs behind him.
PoliticsAviation
The FAA is recruiting gamers to fix America’s air traffic controller crisis—and offering $155,000 to do it
By Sasha RogelbergApril 13, 2026
28 minutes ago
U.S. President Donald Trump attends UFC 327 at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
EnergyIran
Trump threatens to blow up Iran’s last ships ‘using the same system of kill’ as drug boats as his ‘Hail Mary’ blockade begins
By Eva RoytburgApril 13, 2026
1 hour ago
U.S. naval blockade on Iran will trigger a currency devaluation spiral and hyperinflation, potentially ending the war more quickly, analyst says
EconomyIran
U.S. naval blockade on Iran will trigger a currency devaluation spiral and hyperinflation, potentially ending the war more quickly, analyst says
By Jason MaApril 13, 2026
1 hour ago
zohran
PoliticsNew York City
Zohran Mamdani’s promise at 100 days: ‘At our stores, eggs will be cheaper. Bread will be cheaper’
By Anthony Izaguirre and The Associated PressApril 13, 2026
2 hours ago
hungary
EuropeHungary
Hungary voted for ‘complete change in regime,’ Peter Magyar says, calling for new parliament ASAP
By Justin Spike, Sam McNeil and The Associated PressApril 13, 2026
2 hours ago
swalwell
PoliticsCalifornia
Eric Swalwell suspends campaign for California governor, rocking wide-open contest
By MIchael R. Blood and The Associated PressApril 13, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
Politics
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
2 days ago
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
Economy
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
Real Estate
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
Here's how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. 'This is a big task, and it's a big gamble'
Politics
Here's how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. 'This is a big task, and it's a big gamble'
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
24 hours ago
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sun Belt, soaring in the Rust Belt
Real Estate
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sun Belt, soaring in the Rust Belt
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
2 days ago
‘Almost unmanageable’: Raising a child in the U.S. now costs more than $300,000
Economy
‘Almost unmanageable’: Raising a child in the U.S. now costs more than $300,000
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.