During a press conference in Washington, D.C., Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and officials from the U.S. Departments of Health and Education announced that 19 medical schools had signed the Trump administration’s Nutrition Education Pledge. However, the event took an unexpected turn when a reporter asked about the flesh-eating parasite outbreak known as the new world screwworm. Kennedy and his colleagues noticeably avoided the question, leading to widespread mockery on social media. Notable figures, including journalist Aaron Rupar and virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, criticized the officials for their evasion. Users pointed out that Kennedy's silence on the CDC's preparedness for human cases of the parasite was particularly concerning. Public health expert Sarah Despres also noted the FDA's ongoing work related to screwworms, suggesting that Kennedy's lack of awareness was troubling. The incident highlights the growing scrutiny of public health officials and their responses to emerging health threats.