Cheryl Hines, Megyn Kelly, and Vani Hari Form RFK Jr.’s MAHA Cheer Squad at First Confirmation Hearing

Typically, confirmation hearings for cabinet positions don’t come with raucous applause or screamed proclamations of love. But then again, most cabinet nominees are not Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an oddball player on the modern political scene if there ever was one.

Kennedy’s own family has spoken against him throughout both his failed presidential campaign and now his Senate confirmation process, most recently via a letter in which cousin Caroline Kennedy called him a “predator.” But he has inspired ardent support from other quarters with his MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) platform. He’s especially popular with the “did my own research,” “earth mama,” wannabe Instagram mommy-influencer types, and they made certainly made their presence known throughout Wednesday’s Senate festivities, with shrieks that were more befitting of a teenybopper at a mall concert than for the halls of Congress. When the hearing was recessed two hours in for a five-minute bathroom break, screeches of “We love you, Bobby!” could be heard over the live feed.

Beyond the panting fans, a few more familiar faces were visible lending their support to Kennedy, his squad of shiny-haired cheerleaders: Wife Cheryl Hines was there, despite Kennedy’s sexting scandal with a journalist, and offered her husband a peck on the lips as the hearing started. Over his shoulder, she could be seen blinking rapidly throughout the hours of question-and-answer-dodging, leading some on social media to joke that she was trying to transmit a message in Morse Code. Perhaps she was just grappling emotionally with the thought that if her husband is confirmed, she’ll have to stop shilling her $20 MAHA-scented candles within 90 days, denying the world more staged Instagram videos of her septuagenarian husband in the buff. A sacrifice for God and country, indeed.

Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who has declared her support, was also in attendance, as was Vani Hari, writer of the Food Babe blog, several books, and perpetual variations on “I can’t believe how many ingredients are in this cereal.” Hari, in an eye-catching hot pink blazer, gold costume earrings, and bright red lipstick, was unmissable as she nodded animatedly throughout the hearing, smiling hugely at times, like when committee member Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said that he believed that Kennedy had a “divine purpose” to fulfill in his proposed role. Hari brought her 8-year-old daughter, clad in pale pink, along for the trip, because what pre-tween doesn’t dream of a mommy-and-me day watching Kennedy dance around questions about his past drug use, alleged mistreatment of animals, anti-vaccine views, and newly aired stance against reproductive rights?

Marla Maples, the ex-wife of the current president, was seated further back in the chamber. Kennedy superfan Jessica Reed Kraus, who on Tuesday posted to her Instagram stories on @HouseInhabit begging for help getting into the hearing, apparently had her wish granted. She shared snaps of herself holding yet another baseball cap, this one reading “Confirm RFK Jr.” (because if a hat doesn’t say it, then is it even worth saying?), and a text-only slide insisting that the committee “confirm Bobby based simply on his tan.”

Kennedy will sit for a second confirmation hearing Thursday.