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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was standing in front of reporters on Wednesday, briefing them on Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) policies, when his phone went off.
“I’m sorry,” Kennedy said, as he pulled out his phone, pausing his remarks. In the silence, squawked, “Quack, quack, quack.”
RFK Jr. tried to silence his phone, as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins joked, “Duck is also high in protein.”
- RFK Jr.'s phone rang during a briefing with a 'quack, quack, quack' ringtone, causing laughter and jokes from colleagues and reporters.
- The new health guidelines remove six childhood vaccines and focus on promoting 'real foods' over ultra-processed meals for better health.
- Guidelines declare war on added sugars and highly processed foods, urging Americans to prioritize high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s ringtone is “Quack, quack, quack”
Image credits: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Reporters in the room could be heard laughing as Rollins, laughing herself, continued, “Duck is a good thing to eat, everybody.”
Social media users also found the ringtone to be hilarious. “Not the only quack on that stage,” said one X user, while another called it “a bit on the nose.”
The Health Secretary quickly continued his explanation of the department’s revision of childhood vaccine recommendations after announcing the removal of six recommended shots earlier this week.
Kennedy was in attendance at the press briefing alongside other health leaders to discuss new dietary guidelines focused on Americans eating “real foods” as opposed to ultra-processed meals.
The “Make America Healthy Again” campaign will shape the meals served to millions of people in schools, prisons, and on military bases.
RFK JR’s phone just went off in his press conference. His ring tone is a duck quack.
(Not the only quack on that stage) pic.twitter.com/D8HAZMypVu
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 7, 2026
The new guidelines scaled back on refined carbohydrates and declared “war” on added sugars while encouraging “prioritizing high-quality protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.”
“Today, our government declares war on added sugar,” Kennedy said. “Highly processed foods loaded with additives, added sugar and excess salt damage health and should be avoided. As secretary of health and human services, my message is clear: eat real food.”
The department also introduced a new visual framework, including an image of an inverted pyramid. The pyramid places meats and vegetables at the widest point on top, and whole grains at the bottom.
The recommendation advised Americans to “prioritize oils with essential fatty acids, such as olive oil. Other options can include butter or beef tallow,” while adding fat in their meals.
Kennedy claimed that if foreign adversaries wanted to weaken the U.S., they would “addict us to ultra-processed foods.”
“If a foreign adversary sought to destroy the health of our children, cripple our economy, to weaken our national security, there would be no better strategy than to addict us to ultra-processed foods,” he said.
He added, “The new guidelines recognize that whole, nutrient-dense food is the most effective path to better health and lower healthcare costs.”
“Protein and healthy fats are essential, and were wrongly discouraged in prior dietary guidelines. We are ending the war on saturated fats.”
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