After U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) grilled President Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the House Energy and Commerce hearing on Tuesday, Wall Street Journal reporter Liz Essley Whyte took a few candid photos of the two politicians in discussion on the House floor and shared them on social media.
When someone asked, “Were they arguing?”, Whyte replied, “No, appeared friendly.” Not everyone on the Internet saw the same friendly vibe, though Kennedy was a lifelong Democrat until 2023, when he left the Party after his presidential primary bid ended. One commenter replied: “Can’t tell if she is flipping him off or blowing him a kiss.”
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a Libertarian and a physician, jumped in with a joking caption: “Explaining to a socialist that big government will never make anything better or cheaper.”
Explaining to a socialist that big government will never make anything better or cheaper: pic.twitter.com/RZfhsjc6eT
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) April 22, 2026
Not all of Paul’s followers think his joke is funny. As one replied to Paul: “Everything is crazy expensive under capitalism. Shut up Rand. This isn’t the flex you think it is with the cost of living as high it is. Be a serious person please.”
This was more popular than expected, so here are the outtakes. Sorry I didn’t record video! pic.twitter.com/d3nRBSfoe7
— Liz Essley Whyte (@l_e_whyte) April 21, 2026
The Kentucky Senator took the time to reply to that response, writing: “Take a trip over to Venezuela, where there are gangs defending dumpsters to secure food for the week. They’re malnourished and have abysmal healthcare. I am a very, very serious person.”
Democratic activist Daniel Kurz also replied to Paul: “Sure, and Kentucky is a paradise on earth. Some of the worst rural poverty in America.”
[NOTE: In its health care rankings, U.S. News & World Report placed Kentucky at #45 out of the 50 states — #44 in public health, # 47 in health care quality, and #23 in health care access.]