RFK Jr. to Undergo Surgery

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is having rotator cuff surgery Tuesday, a spokesperson told MedPage Today.

Kennedy plans to return to the office March 16, the spokesperson said. That person did not provide details about the reason for the procedure or which shoulder was repaired, and did not provide an update on his condition.

Since his tenure at HHS began, Kennedy has frequently engaged in various physical activities publicly to promote his “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, including doing pull-ups at an airport event. Early on he was criticized for posting pictures of himself hiking in California as a deadly measles outbreak unfolded in Texas. Most recently, he posted a video of himself exercising with musician Kid Rock to encourage Americans to be more active.

National Review first reported that Kennedy would have the procedure.

Tears and other rotator cuff injuries may happen suddenly — when falling on an outstretched hand, for example — or over time due to aging or to repetitive movements causing inflammation in the shoulder bursa or tendons. Surgery may require shaving off bone spurs if they are pinching the shoulder, repairing torn shoulder tendons or muscles, or reattaching the tendon to the head of the humerus.

Recovery can take between 4-6 months for daily activities, and up to 12 months for high-intensity ones.

Kennedy previously underwent surgery in Japan for spasmodic dysphonia — the rare neurological disorder that causes his voice to sound creaky and strained. In a 2023 interview, Kennedy explained that his condition improved after he had the “novel surgery” in Kyoto. The Kyoto ENT Surgicenter describes a procedure on their website that smooths “airflow by making the glottal gap wider during phonation.”

Kennedy said the center placed a titanium bridge between his vocal cords to keep them separate so that air can pass through. The surgery was performed while he was awake.

“Cheryl was in the room with me when we did it until the blood made her leave the room,” he said.