RFK Jr. goes swimming with grandchildren in contaminated DC creek

The National Park Service has a longstanding warning against swimming or wading in Rock Creek due to "high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens."

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posted photos of himself and his grandchildren swimming in waters known to be contaminated during a Mother’s Day hike in Rock Creek Park.

In one of the photos from Sunday, Kennedy is seen fully submerged in the water, with his grandchildren swimming, in spite of an ongoing National Park Service advisory against coming in contact with the water in the Washington, D.C., park “due to high bacteria levels.” The same notice says swimming and wading are not permitted due to the health risks.

“Stay out of the water to protect streambanks, plants and animals and keep you and your family (including pets!) safe from illness,” the advisory states. “Rock Creek has high levels of bacteria and other infectious pathogens that make swimming, wading, and other contact with the water a hazard to human (and pet) health.”

Kennedy said in a post on X Sunday that he had hiked with his family and then went for "a swim with my grandchildren" in Rock Creek.

Washington, D.C., has banned swimming in Rock Creek, the Potomac River and other nearby waters since 1971 as a result of contamination.