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RFK Jr has been hit with backlash after plunging into a creek brimming with ‘fecal matter’ despite the park’s official warnings.
The footage has sparked health concerns from the public after the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services filmed himself swimming in a creek in Washington DC.
The water in question at Rock Creek is known to be contaminated with feces as it is used to drain out excess sewage and storm water in the event of heavy rainfall.
As a result, the creek is filled with dangerous bacteria including E.coli.
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However, that doesn’t seem to have put RFK Jr off as he shared photos of himself with his grandchildren taking a dip in the dirty water.
In one image, the 71-year-old could be seen fully submerged in the creek, much to the shock of people on social media.
Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek. pic.twitter.com/TXowaSMTFY
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 11, 2025
On its website, the National Park Service, who manage the creek, warned: “Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading and other contact with the water a hazard to human health.
“Please protect yourself and your pooches by staying on trails and out of the creek.”
It goes on to add: “All District waterways are subject to a swim ban - this means wading, too!”
This ban on swimming in the water has been in place for over 50 years due to the contamination it has had with sewage.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, to post the pictures of him swimming in the creek, RFK Jr wrote: “Mother’s Day hike in Dumbarton Oaks Park with Amaryllis, Bobby, Kick, and Jackson, and a swim with my grandchildren, Bobcat and Cassius in Rock Creek.”
The post sparked replies from concerned users who took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the matter.
One user wrote: “With all due respect, swimming in Rock Creek is prohibited because the water is contaminated with [poo emoji].”
Another said: “Oh wow, smelling like s*** now.”
A third person commented: “Wild how RFK Jr. warning everyone about the ‘dangers of vaccines’ is out here letting his grandkids splash around in the kind of creek that gives you flesh-eating bacteria and E. coli.
“Hope they packed something more protective than natural immunity.”
And another joked: “I feel like the water was less polluted before you jumped in.”
