Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shares gym selfie with Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are not only longtime friends, but also workout buddies.

"Senior’s Day at Gold’s in Venice," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary jokingly captioned a selfie of the two of them, which he posted on his personal social media accounts May 14.

Schwarzenegger, a seven-time Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition winner who served as the Republican governor of California from 2003 to 2011, was formerly married to Kennedy's cousin, journalist Maria Shriver, from 1986 until their separation in 2011. Kennedy and Schwarzenegger have previously worked out at the Venice, California, gym, according to paparazzi footage from 2025.

"I like Bobby Kennedy a lot. I don't agree with everything policy-wise, but I like him as a human being. I mean, he's fantastic," the former governor told Andy Cohen in a June 2025 sit-down for the Radio Andy SiriusXM show, noting Kennedy had connected him with an environmental strategist who helped Schwarzenegger create climate policies.

"So when I ran as a Republican and a Democrat like Bobby Kennedy helps me, I said to myself that I should always be there for him. No matter if I believe in everything that he does or not, I will always support him," Schwarzenegger said. "We've worked out together and go gym and stuff like that, and I always was a big supporter of his."

Kennedy, who has called to "Make America Healthy Again," has emerged as a controversial figure within President Donald Trump's administration, sometimes going against scientific consensus on public health issues like vaccines and fluoride in water.

Where does Arnold Schwarzenegger stand on Donald Trump?

Though Schwarzenegger supports Kennedy, "The Terminator" star has not been warm toward Trump, who appointed Kennedy to lead the health agency.

In 2024, Schwarzenegger endorsed Democrat Sen. Kamala Harris over Trump for president while acknowledging that "I don’t like either [political] party right now" but "I will always be an American before I am a Republican."

Though he shared he's not a fan of "the government of the United States [saying] climate change is a hoax" during a speech at the Austrian World Summit in June 2025, Schwarzenegger has been reluctant to publicly denounce the president.

"I know all of you are thinking now: 'I hope Arnold attacks Trump and says some really terrible things about Trump,' but that's not my style," he said. "First of all, I have a rule. I do not criticize a president outside of his borders. No matter who it is and what party he belongs to – or she belongs to."

Arnold Schwarzenegger's exercise philosophy at 78 years old

As a former professional athlete, Schwarzenegger, 78, continues to be passionate about staying active at any age.

"What makes people sometimes stop from activities is pain, injuries, wear and tear, arthritis, joint problems, joint damage, whatever it may be. ... I've gone through a lot of this stuff, so I always try to tell people, 'Don't ever stop moving because you have pain. Go and get help,'" he told USA TODAY in 2025.

"Even today, when I drive down to the gym with the bike, I feel like I'm driving in the black-and-white. When I drive back, I feel like I'm driving in the color movie," he added. "The way you see the world, it all changes after a workout ... Eventually people are going to learn that there's much more to it than just the looks of the body and the muscles and all that stuff."

Contributing: Charles Trepany