HHS Secretary RFK Jr was grilled over comments he made in 2024 about black kids needing to be “reparented.”
Maryland Democrat Sen. Angela Alsobrooks was determined to pin Kennedy during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Wednesday. Also, she cited a recent contentious exchange RFK Jr. had with Alabama Democrat Terri Sewell last week.
“Can you admit today that you said every black kid can get reparented on a wellness farm? Can you admit that you said that?” Alsobrooks began.
After Kennedy appeared perplexed, she continued.
a yelling RFK Jr denies making comments about Black children that Rep. Sewell printed out and put on a placard pic.twitter.com/8OGXUbhnTi
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 16, 2026
“You said, ‘Every black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, Benzos, which are known to induce violence. And those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get reparented, to live in a community where there’ll be no cellphones, no screens.’ You know, you claimed, in fact, you went on to say, actually, the whole transcript is even worse. You said that if you could, you would send quote, ‘every black kid’ – again, ‘to go live on farms and work.’”
“Is that your…”
Kennedy interjected, saying that he’d need to hear the recording and that he had no recollection of his statements.
“Yeah, well, I actually have the recording that I can give to you,” she shot back. “But that is absolutely what you said. And if you want me to play it, I can play it.”
Kennedy claimed that it is not his position and ultimately apologized to Alsobrooks.
“If you ask me what my opinion is, I do not believe that every black kid should be reparented on a wellness farm or whatever. And I have never believed that…”
“Well, if I said it, I apologize, but I’d have to see the transcript.”
Here are Kennedy’s original comments where he talked about “wellness farms” for at-risk black kids and “any American” who’s dependent on drugs can go for help.
“Which every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall. SSRIS. Benzos. Which are known to induce violence and those kids are gonna have a chance to go somewhere and get reared to live in a community…”
RFK Jr. wants to put Black children “reparented” on ”wellness farms.” pic.twitter.com/ZjcLhoGcOZ
— American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) July 25, 2024
