President Donald Trump appeared to snub actress Cheryl Hines, wife of Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at UFC 314 in Miami on Saturday night.
The moment was captured on ESPN’s live coverage showing Trump greeting Kennedy with a warm handshake while seemingly bypassing Hines completely, creating an awkward moment that quickly gained traction on social media.
Newsweek reached out to the White House and a press contact for Hines via email on Saturday for comment.
Donald Trump not giving RFK Jr’s wife Cheryl Hines a handshake at UFC 314 looks straight off an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm 😂😂
pic.twitter.com/c4WZoy4GuD— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 13, 2025
Why It Matters
The incident highlights the complex political dynamics surrounding Kennedy’s recent endorsement of Trump. Kennedy has publicly acknowledged that his wife, a self-described “lifelong Democrat,” was uncomfortable with his decision to support Trump after suspending his own independent presidential campaign.
What To Know
Trump was attending the UFC event at the Kaseya Center with an entourage that included his granddaughter Kai, 17, Donald J. Trump III, 16, Tristan, 13, and several high-profile figures from his administration. FBI Director Kash Patel, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and Elon Musk were among those accompanying the president.
Musk was spotted with his son, X Æ A-12, on his shoulders as they disembarked Air Force One after Trump touched down at Miami International Airport.
Upon arrival at the venue, Trump, flanked by UFC president Dana White, greeted several notable attendees, including Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and commentator Joe Rogan, whom he embraced.
While Trump shook hands with Kennedy, who was already seated, footage shows him appearing to completely ignore Hines, leaving the actress visibly embarrassed as she tried to brush off the incident.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
What People Are Saying
Joel Solomon reacted to the snub on X, formerly Twitter: “Cheryl Hines getting blown off for a handshake by President Trump is just missing the Curb theme music.”
Another X user asked: “Does Trump have beef with cheryl hines?! he totally dissed her at UFC 314”
In an August 2024 interview with TMZ, Kennedy described his endorsement of Trump as “a really difficult issue” for his wife, stating: “This is the opposite of what she would want to do. She went along with it because she loves me and she wanted to be supportive of me, but it was not something that she ever encouraged.”
Kennedy had previously indicated the political tension in their relationship. Earlier in 2024, when asked if he would accept an offer to be Trump’s running mate, Kennedy pointed to Hines and said: “I don’t think that my marriage would survive it,” to which Hines responded: “I think he’s right.”
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
What Happens Next
The viral moment may further complicate the already delicate political position of Hines, who has previously had to navigate the challenges of being married to a Kennedy while maintaining her own political identity.