There have been several buzzworthy moments from the confirmation hearings of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, and one of those moments may involve Kennedy getting an actual buzz.

A video clip went viral on social media that appears to show Kennedy slipping a nicotine pouch into his mouth while being questioned by senators, the Daily Mail reported.

Nicotine pouches, marketed under brand names like Zyn, Snus, and Alp, among others, have surged in popularity in recent years as an arguably safer alternative to smoking or vaping and have even been credited with weight loss thanks to the product's energy-boosting and appetite-suppressing characteristics.

Kennedy caught slipping something into his mouth

According to People magazine, Kennedy was enduring a line of commentary and questions from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) when he was observed somewhat stealthily reaching inside his jacket and retrieving something from an inner pocket that he then held in his palm for a few moments.

At one point, while Cantwell continued with her diatribe, Kennedy was spotted reaching his hand up to his mouth to surreptitiously place there whatever he'd be holding, then was seen using his tongue to position whatever it was between his gums and cheek, a telltale movement for those who use nicotine pouches or chewing tobacco.

RFK Jr. slips in a Zyn in the middle of his Senate confirmation hearing... give him the job.#KennedyConfirmation #RFKJr pic.twitter.com/PwjrtGJquK

— Whiskey Riff (@WhiskeyRiff) January 29, 2025

The moment went viral on social media but received a decidedly mixed reaction, as some cheered the subtle move while others were critical of it.

Some critics even went so far as to accuse Kennedy of being a "hypocrite" for using an addictive substance that may be harmful to people's health while simultaneously claiming that, if confirmed, he would take action to help make the nation and its citizenry healthier.

Kennedy is not alone in using nicotine pouches

To be sure, it has not been confirmed that Kennedy slipped a nicotine pouch into his mouth during his Senate confirmation hearings, though his movements that were caught in the viral video clip are strongly suggestive of such.

Furthermore, according to the Daily Beast, Kennedy has been previously spotted in public purchasing and using products like Zyn that are predominately comprised of crystalized nicotine powder that quickly dissolves when mixed with saliva and enters the bloodstream through the thin tissue of the cheeks and gums.

Nor is he alone among influential figures on the right in using nicotine pouches, as former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is part owner of his own brand, Alp pouches, while eldest first son Donald Trump Jr. is also a known user of nicotine pouches.

They have also become hugely popular with younger generations, especially after they recently received approval from the Food and Drug Administration as a safer alternative than cigarettes and vaporizers for nicotine delivery, though they are still considered "highly addictive" and, per People, could still contain small amounts of potentially harmful and cancerous chemicals.

Does this detract from Kennedy's message or not?

Unless or until Kennedy or his reps confirm that he did indeed ingest a nicotine pouch during his Senate confirmation hearing, the nation may never know for certain what he was spotted placing into his mouth while facing longwinded commentary and critiques from senators on both sides of the aisle.

As such, whether or not that substantially detracts from his overarching message about making America healthy again will undoubtedly be a topic of debate for some time.