Bill Maher Calls HHS Secretary RFK Jr. ‘Nutty,’ Demands Resignation After Senate Hearing

Comedian Bill Maher has publicly called for the resignation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., describing him as 'nutty' and criticizing his leadership following a contentious Senate Finance Committee hearing. Maher, who was once sympathetic to Kennedy's criticisms of Western medicine and advocacy for public health reform, expressed disappointment over Kennedy's recent actions, including the firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez and 17 other top officials, which Maher believes has eliminated critical expert voices. Kennedy's tenure has faced sharp criticism from both political figures and former colleagues, including his nephew Joe Kennedy III and sister Kerry Kennedy, who warn that his policies endanger public health and undermine key institutions like the CDC and NIH. Maher highlighted Kennedy's refusal to moderate his views and his problematic handling of vaccine-related issues during the hearing, which involved misleading claims and evasion of questions about COVID-19 deaths. The backlash against Kennedy also includes more than 1,000 current and former HHS employees urging his resignation, citing the appointment of political ideologues in important positions. Overall, Maher concluded that despite initial hopes, Kennedy's approach has been harmful and untenable, stating simply, "He's got to go."