'Who put the worm back in?' Internet mocks RFK Jr as he mentions former Iranian President in brutal new gaffe

AURORA, COLORADO: Robert F Kennedy Jr, whose campaign has emphasized his relative youth and mental sharpness, committed a significant gaffe on Sunday, May 19.

During a speech on artificial intelligence technology, Kennedy proposed that the next US President should engage in talks with several authoritarian leaders, including former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has been out of office for over a decade.

“We need to be sitting down with other world leaders, with people like President Xi and President Putin and President Ahmadinejad, the prime minister, all the people—we can’t afford to be at war anymore,” Kennedy stated.

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi dies in a helicopter crash

RFK Jr's timing for the mistake was particularly unfortunate, as it occurred just hours after news emerged that the current President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, was reportedly involved in a helicopter crash near the country’s border with Azerbaijan, which later resulted in his death.

Ahmadinejad, a notable advocate of Iran’s contentious nuclear program, departed office in August 2013 and was succeeded by Hassan Rouhani.

Despite being 70 years old and an independent candidate, he often ridicules his opponents' age and tendency for similar mistakes, though there have been recent worries about his own physical and mental well-being.

Robert F Kennedy Jr makes health disclosure

Earlier this month, it surfaced that Kennedy acknowledged in a 2012 deposition having previously endured a rare parasitic worm infestation that "got into my brain and ate a portion of it and then died."

In response to this revelation, Kennedy’s spokesperson redirected attention to his opponents' mental endurance. President Joe Biden, aged 81, and Donald Trump, aged 77, were cited as examples.

“The issue was resolved more than 10 years ago and he is in robust physical and mental health. Questioning Mr Kennedy’s health is a hilarious suggestion, given his competition,” the Kennedy's spokesperson stated.

Kennedy later joked about the issue in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "I offer to eat five more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate. I feel confident of the result even with a six-worm handicap."

Internet ridicules Robert F Kennedy Jr over misidentification of Iranian Leader

A user tweeted, "I think a presidential candidate should vote in the state they live and not in NY. The guy is an effing lying grifter."

Another mocked, "He was when the worm was alive." A user said, "Blame it on the," followed by a worm emoji. 

"That timeline must have got eaten by the worm," read a tweet.

A user tweeted, "Okay who put the worm back in guys."

"RFK Jr. should sit down with a team of neurologists," a user mocked.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.