RFK Jr. Is Working Out in Jeans...Again

In today's episode of "Odd Things on the Internet," we have reports of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of John F. Kennedy, working out in jeans...again. The politician and soon-to-be Trump administration health secretary, was recently spotted at the Hudson Yards Equinox in unorthodox workout gear. A gymgoer told Page Six that the raw-milk-loving politician was wearing "tight jeans and hiking boots," giving off "construction worker" vibes at the luxe fitness club.

This isn't the first time RFK Jr. has made headlines for his gym 'fit. This news comes a year after the former presidential candidate was featured in bench press and push-up videos on X, formerly known as Twitter, in what seems to be his go-to gym uniform. "Getting in shape for my debates with President Biden!" he captioned the push-up video. Then, he followed it with a series of replies establishing health and wellness as part of his political platform, promising to "restore America as the global example of health & well-being." The politician went on to state that, "Americans gained an average of 29 pounds during the Covid lockdowns" (not true, BTW) and promised to "help turn this around by encouraging our citizens to exercise, eat well, and fortify their immune systems by removing harmful chemicals from our food."

While the sentiment of incorporating more exercise into our lives is appreciated, his politics tend to be as divisive as his gym outfits. Don't get me wrong — I respect the fact that RFK Jr. is still getting after it in the weight room at 70 years old, but I personally can't condone the look. Jeans have never had a place in my workouts, let alone with a belt on. I'm strictly a leggings girlie. On top of that, trainers agree that certain materials just aren't conducive to a good sweat session. "While I wouldn't say it's necessarily unsafe, I do think it would constrict our bodies from performing exercises to their full range of movement, therefore holding us back from having our best workout!," Macy Pruett, certified personal trainer, previously told PS of Lenny Kravitz' leather pants at the gym. The same logic applies to jeans.

That said, what you wear to the gym is ultimately your choice. If you want to take a page out of RFK Jr.'s book and bench press in denim, so be it. There are enough things keeping people out of the weight room as it is.

— Additional reporting by Alexis Jones

Alexis Jones (she/her) is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. In her six years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions and areas of expertise around mental health, women's health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.

Lauren Mazzo was the senior fitness editor at PS. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist through the American Council on Exercise. Prior to joining PS, she worked for six years as a writer and editor for Shape Magazine covering health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, sex and relationships, beauty, and astrology.