RFK Jr.'s Denim Workout With Kid Rock Ignites Fitness Fashion Debate
Forget traditional athletic wear like leggings, compression pants, or joggers. When it comes to gym attire, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proudly sports blue jeans. On Tuesday, RFK Jr. shared a "Make America Healthy Again" workout video on social media platform X, showcasing his unconventional fitness fashion alongside noted fitness enthusiast Kid Rock.
Denim Workout Session in Nashville Mansion
The 72-year-old Kennedy and 55-year-old Rock made extensive use of the singer's home gym located in his Nashville mansion. As Rock's 1999 hit song "Bawitdaba" played in the background, the pair engaged in weightlifting, flexed for the camera, played pickleball, and relaxed in Rock's in-home sauna. Most remarkably, Kennedy remained clad in blue jeans throughout the entire session, even taking a jump into Rock's in-home cold plunge tub while wearing denim.
This isn't the first instance of Kennedy's jean-clad workouts. In August, he wore denim while filming the "Pete and Bobby Challenge" with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which involved completing 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups within ten minutes.
Kennedy's Explanation and Fitness Community Reactions
After his workout with Hegseth went viral, Kennedy addressed his unusual fashion choice during a Fox News interview. "I just started doing that a long time ago because I would go hiking in the morning and then I'd go straight to the gym," Kennedy explained. "I found it was convenient, and now I'm used to it, so I just do it."
However, fitness professionals expressed skepticism about both the comfort and effectiveness of denim workouts. Personal trainer and nutrition coach Giulia Cammarano from Denver, Colorado, watched RFK Jr.'s video and described it as "pretty silly and uncomfortable looking." She added, "I know if it was me doing a hard and sweaty workout, the last thing I would want is to be in my jeans."
Cammarano noted she has observed older populations wearing jeans in gyms, but believes this typically occurs because they lack proper workout clothing or are uncertain about appropriate gym attire.
The "Jeans Add Resistance" Theory and Health Concerns
Despite Kennedy's preference, some fitness enthusiasts claim that wearing uncomfortable, resistant clothing like jeans can enhance their exercise regimen. A December GQ feature highlighted gym enthusiasts who squat and bench press in distressed denim, with one person quoted as saying, "Jeans adds 30 reps." A British fitness coach who recently went viral for wearing jeans to the gym told Newsweek, "No pain, no gain," suggesting that thicker material adds more resistance to training.
Fitness experts strongly disagree with this assessment. "Maybe you'll sweat more and sure, maybe that clothing is a little heavier but not significant enough that it would change the overall load of the exercises you're doing — that strictly comes from the external weight you're lifting," Cammarano emphasized.
Sports medicine physician Christine Persaud from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York, warned about potential negative health consequences. "Sports medicine guidance, including recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine, emphasizes clothing that allows full mobility and helps regulate body temperature," Persaud explained.
She highlighted several risks associated with denim workouts: "Jeans aren't very breathable, they trap heat and sweat, and that can increase the risk of chafing, skin irritation, and even skin infections. Restrictive clothing can also limit joint range of motion and make exercise feel less comfortable."
Alternative Perspectives and Celebrity Comparisons
While personal trainer Bianca Russo doesn't see any real performance benefit to working out in jeans, she adopted a "to each their own" approach regarding Kennedy's denim preference. Russo hypothesized it might be a fashion statement, suggesting that working out in jeans conveys a rugged, masculine image.
However, Russo cautioned the general public: "Many of us sit for long stretches during the day, and stiff denim around the hips and lower back can create unnecessary restriction or discomfort once we try to lift or play sports. Nobody has time for that."
In contrast to Kennedy's denim preference, his former in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger was photographed outside a Gold's Gym in February 2024 wearing more traditional, comfortable workout attire. Persaud suggested Schwarzenegger's choice reflects understanding that tight-fitting pants may alter movement patterns, increase discomfort during physical activity, and potentially elevate injury risk.
Final Verdict on Denim Workouts
Despite the recent trend of jeans in gyms, experts agree that denim doesn't add meaningful challenge or productive "pain" to workouts. "You'll just be uncomfortable, which may contribute to a stronger mindset with tolerating discomfort with exercise, but it's definitely more beneficial for that discomfort to come from the intensity of the workout, not the clothes you're wearing," Cammarano concluded.
Persaud summarized the professional consensus: "There are few real benefits here beyond the convenience of not changing clothes. For regular training, go the Schwarzenegger way for comfort, performance and injury prevention." While a single workout in jeans likely won't harm a healthy individual, consistent training in restrictive denim could lead to unnecessary discomfort and potential health issues.
