In what has become somewhat of an annual tradition, the Kennedy family have reunited once again for a big celebration post but people online have spotted one glaringly obvious absence.
In a video posted to social media by Kerry Kennedy - the third daughter of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy - on Saturday (5 July), dozens of members of the well-known political family could be seen posing for the camera at the Kennedy estate in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, to mark the Fourth of July celebrations.
"Happy birthday Chris, Kathleen and America," she captioned the clip, referencing family members Chris Kennedy, who turned 62 on the holiday, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who turned 74.
In the video, the various Kennedy family members cheered while standing outside in the garden as the camera operator shouted, 'Happy birthday, happy birthday', before panning to a sunset over the water.
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The likes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., however, was nowhere to be seen - an obvious detail which people picked up on very quickly.
One Instagram user penned: "Bet I know who wasn’t there."
"Guess who wasn’t invited," quipped a second, while a third chimed in: "Was RFK Jr invited?"
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Another piped up: "…And I hope to god this is how RFK Jr. found out."
And a final Instagram user declared: "The Kennedys obviously didn't want Bobby there!"
The 71-year-old Health and Human Services Secretary is well known for his extremely controversial and totally unfounded claims surrounding what he calls the 'autism epidemic' - something which he has previously pledged to 'eliminate' in just a few months' time.
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RFK Jr. is also known for his staunch anti-vaccine views and has spread debunked claims that vaccines cause autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has previously explained that several studies have investigated whether there is a connection between vaccines and autism and 'to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with' autism.
In a separate post, Kerry shared a number of throwback snaps as a tribute to her late mother, Ethel Kennedy, who died in October 2024 at the age of 96.
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"Every year, Mum led the annual Fourth of July parade in Hyannis Port from her red, white, and blue-decked golf cart," Kerry wrote in the caption. "But she also knew that patriotism means more than celebration.
"In 2018, Mum participated in a 24-hour hunger strike to protest Pres. Trump’s cruel 'zero tolerance' immigration policy. She understood that loving your country means holding it accountable, and fighting to make it better."
Kerry concluded: "Today is a day for fireworks and family, for cookouts and joy, but also for reflection. Reflection on who we are, and the kind of country we want to be.
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"Miss you, Mum. And wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday weekend."
Topics: US News, Social Media, Politics
Rhiannon Ingle