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Chris Pratt has opened up about his personal connection to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., sharing that he has spent time with him at family gatherings and genuinely enjoys his company. Speaking on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast on August 18, the Guardians of the Galaxy star explained that their connection comes through his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, who is Kennedy Jr.’s niece. Pratt described their interactions as lighthearted and familial, saying, “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. I think he’s great. I think he’s funny. I like him. I love him.”
Pratt was careful to emphasize that his comments were not political endorsements but reflections on personal experiences. He noted that when they meet, they are focused on family activities, games, and dinners, rather than political debates. “It’s not like I sit with Bobby and go, ‘So hey, let’s talk about this,’” Pratt said, adding that politics has become “a nasty business” where public perception can often be very different from private reality.
The actor also addressed the challenges of navigating politics in today’s climate, particularly after Kennedy Jr.’s alignment with Donald Trump in 2024 drew widespread controversy. Pratt admitted he doesn’t know which reports about Kennedy Jr. are accurate, but he tries not to take headlines at face value. “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. So I don’t know what to believe,” he said. “I’m not going to pick his brain to find out exactly which of those things are true. I just kind of assume that none of them are, and for the most part, I wish him well.”
Pratt also touched on the broader issue of partisanship, explaining that he dislikes the idea of rejecting any positive developments simply because they come from an opposing political figure. “I’d hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I’d have an allergic reaction to,” he remarked.
Ahead of the 2024 election, Pratt himself faced criticism for keeping a neutral stance while many Hollywood celebrities openly supported Kamala Harris. Several of his Marvel co-stars even appeared in a widely circulated “Avengers assemble” video endorsing her campaign, while Donald Trump ultimately won the election. Pratt’s comments on Maher’s podcast suggest he continues to prefer staying out of partisan battles, choosing instead to keep his perspective grounded in personal relationships rather than political affiliations.