Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appears to have used a nicotine pouch during his Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of health and human services. During the hearing, Kennedy glanced down and slipped something into his mouth, keeping it covered with his hand. Social media users speculated that he was using a Zyn nicotine pouch, which is a popular alternative to smoking among some MAGA supporters.
Zyn is a small pouch of crystallized nicotine powder that dissolves and gets absorbed into the bloodstream through gum tissue. It is often used by people who want to quit smoking, but health officials have warned that it is highly addictive. The pouches have been marketed as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but they can still cause serious health problems.
Kennedy is not the only prominent figure who uses Zyn. Other users include former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who claimed the pouches were a “powerful work enhancer, and also a male enhancer,” and Donald Trump Jr., who has posted photos of himself using the product.