Chris Pratt, the Hollywood actor known for his roles in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Jurassic World," has stepped into the political spotlight, not for his own views, but for his defense of a controversial family member. On August 18, 2025, Pratt appeared on Bill Maher’s "Club Random" podcast, where he opened up about his relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and a figure often in the news for his polarizing policies and public statements.
Pratt, 46, has been married to Katherine Schwarzenegger since 2019, making him part of the storied Kennedy family by marriage. Katherine is the granddaughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, whose brother was the late Robert F. Kennedy, Sr. This connection has placed Pratt in close proximity to one of America’s most scrutinized political dynasties, and, as it turns out, to some of its most controversial debates.
During his conversation with Maher, Pratt didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room—his family ties to Kennedy and the storm of criticism that often surrounds the Secretary. "I’ve spent a number of occasions hanging with him, just in a strictly family dinner kind of vibe, and I really got along with him well," Pratt said, according to USA TODAY. He continued, "I think he’s great. I think he’s funny. I like him. I love him."
But Pratt was quick to clarify that his affection for Kennedy doesn’t mean he’s on board with every policy or public statement. "I really got along with him well and think he’s great. He’s funny, he’s wonderful. I love him," Pratt reiterated, but added, "I don’t agree with all of his policies." Instead, Pratt highlighted a few areas where he finds common ground—most notably, Kennedy’s bipartisan efforts to make America’s food safer for children.
"There are certain things [that RFK Jr.] oversees that seem to be supported in a bipartisan way," Pratt explained. He singled out Kennedy’s push to remove toxic substances from children’s food as a particularly worthy initiative: "like getting terrible toxic stuff out of our kids’ food. I think that’s a great thing. If you just do that, that’s amazing." According to BBC, Kennedy’s "Make America Healthy" initiative has zeroed in on ultra-processed foods and petroleum-based synthetic food dyes, which he has labeled as "toxic" and "dangerous to our children’s health and development."
Of course, not all of Kennedy’s stances have enjoyed such broad support. As reported by USA TODAY, Kennedy has long been a lightning rod for criticism over his views on vaccines, having promoted discredited theories linking childhood vaccines to autism. This, alongside his endorsement of former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election after ending his own independent bid, has only intensified the negative attention he receives in the media.
Pratt acknowledged the impact of these political alliances on Kennedy’s public image. "When you jump on the bandwagon with the most divisive president ever, it makes sense that you’re going to be made to look terrible," Pratt said, referring to Trump. He admitted that the world of politics is a "nasty business," and that the public persona of a politician can be wildly different from the person known to family and friends. "I’ve seen how the person you are can be such a contrast to the person that people are being told that you are," Pratt observed.
Despite the controversies, Pratt said he does not spend his time with Kennedy dissecting policy or seeking clarification on contentious issues. "It’s not like I say to Bobby, ‘Let’s talk about this’ while we’re playing cards or having fun or having dinner. I’m not going to pick his brain to find out exactly which of those things are true. I just assume that none of them are? For the most part, I wish him well," Pratt told Maher. This approach, he suggested, stems from a desire to keep family relationships separate from the often toxic world of political debate.
Pratt’s comments also touched on a broader theme of political discourse in America. He expressed concern about the tendency of partisanship to cloud judgment and prevent people from acknowledging good ideas or successful policies simply because they come from the "other side." "I’d hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I’d be having an allergic reaction to," Pratt said. "Be reasonable here. There’s certain things that would be a good thing to have. I want them all to be successful."
His reluctance to endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential election, even as some of his Marvel co-stars publicly supported Kamala Harris, underscores Pratt’s desire to rise above the fray. In an essay for his mother-in-law Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, Pratt wrote about trying to see the election through the eyes of Americans on both sides. "I’ve been thinking a lot about where we’ll be as a nation on November 6th, how we can attempt to move forward after so much division, and how some of the lessons that sports teach us may be just what all of us need as we chart a course forward," he reflected. After the election, Pratt urged Americans to "accept the results and focus instead on showing up for each other."
Pratt’s approach—seeking unity, focusing on shared values, and keeping family above politics—stands in stark contrast to the often vitriolic tone of national debate. While he acknowledges the serious disagreements and the real consequences of policy decisions, he also insists that it’s possible, and necessary, to find common ground where it exists. His support for Kennedy’s food safety initiatives is a case in point: "If you just do that, that’s amazing." But he’s also clear-eyed about the limits of his agreement, drawing a firm line between personal affection and blanket political endorsement.
Ultimately, Chris Pratt’s comments offer a glimpse into how one prominent American family is navigating the treacherous waters of modern politics—balancing loyalty, disagreement, and the hope for a less divided future. It’s a reminder that, behind the headlines and the heated rhetoric, relationships and reason can still have a place at the table.