RFK Jr.'s stance on abortion angers conservatives
Certainly! Here’s a revised version of the article description: "We naturally have worries regarding Robert F. Kennedy Jr."
TroibNews 
Anti-abortion groups maintained their support for Donald Trump during this election cycle, despite facing numerous disappointments, believing he would once again reward their loyalty by filling his Cabinet with staunch opponents of abortion who would promote their agenda. Many celebrated his recent appointments, particularly the selection of longtime anti-abortion champion Sen. Marco Rubio to lead the State Department; however, their primary focus has consistently been on the nomination of the Health and Human Services secretary.
Trump's Thursday night choice of former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was received as a significant setback by some on the right, including Mike Pence, his former vice president and an advocate for anti-abortion policies. Although other anti-abortion allies reacted more cautiously, they expressed a blend of disappointment and concern over the decision.
Pence went as far as to urge Senate Republicans to reject Kennedy’s nomination, warning that he would be “the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history.”
Despite having successfully overturned Roe during Trump's first term, many conservatives are anxious that Kennedy may not prioritize policies aimed at limiting access to abortion. They cite his inconsistent record on the issue, which drew criticism from the MAGA base throughout his campaign, as a reason not to view him as a trustworthy ally.
"There's no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary, and of course, we have concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” remarked SBA Pro-Life President Marjorie Dannenfelser, emphasizing that her organization will continue to advocate for reinstating a “baseline” set of anti-abortion policies from Trump’s initial term.
Before suspending his own presidential campaign to endorse Trump, Kennedy reversed several positions on abortion. Initially, he hired anti-abortion activist Angela Stanton King and advocated for a national ban on the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy, only to later renounce that position. He has both stated that “every abortion is a tragedy” and identified as “pro-choice,” asserting that “it is always the woman’s right to choose,” linking this viewpoint to his anti-vaccine activism under the concept of “medical freedom.”
In late April, facing persistent questioning from reporters, Kennedy added an abortion policy section to his campaign website, suggesting that funds currently allocated to support Ukraine be redirected to “a massive subsidized daycare initiative” intended to “dramatically reduce abortion in this country.” This plan lacked specifics on how he would approach either state or federal measures to restrict abortion.
Now, several anti-abortion advocates express disappointment that other candidates rumored to be in the running for HHS secretary—who possess executive branch experience and have established anti-abortion policy records, such as former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson or former Trump administration health official Roger Severino—were overlooked.
“A lot of my friends [said during the campaign], ‘Hey, look, you may not like President Trump. You may think that he's not suited for the office. But think of the people who he will appoint. Think of what a pro-life HHS secretary can do with the way that they interpret regulations and executive actions,’” remarked Patrick Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. “But based on the things we know RFK cares about, abortion is going to be just way down on the list.”
Nevertheless, even conservatives who are angered by the nomination recognize the need for caution and wish to avoid alienating Trump and the MAGA base by openly opposing Kennedy’s appointment. Some anti-abortion advocates are still optimistic about the potential for collaboration with Kennedy on implementing federal restrictions, if they can frame their messaging to align with his interests.
“The smart move here is not to try to derail his nomination. The smart move is to try to get senators to pressure him during the confirmation process to adopt the kind of pro-life policies that we had under the first Trump administration,” suggested a Republican strategist working with anti-abortion groups, who spoke anonymously to provide an honest opinion on the appointment. “I think that there’s a real great opportunity to get him to do the right thing.”
Students for Life of America intends to capitalize on that opportunity by presenting Kennedy with their theory that abortion pills are polluting the U.S. water supply. The organization is working to arrange a meeting to discuss how their efforts to restrict access to these drugs align with his broader vision.
"We look forward to talking with RFK Jr. about our 'Make America Healthy Again' plans to address abortion water pollution," stated Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, adding: "RFK Jr. has a proven track record of holding healthcare bureaucrats accountable for putting public health first, over political interests."
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Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Trump's Thursday night choice of former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was received as a significant setback by some on the right, including Mike Pence, his former vice president and an advocate for anti-abortion policies. Although other anti-abortion allies reacted more cautiously, they expressed a blend of disappointment and concern over the decision.
Pence went as far as to urge Senate Republicans to reject Kennedy’s nomination, warning that he would be “the most pro-abortion Republican appointed secretary of HHS in modern history.”
Despite having successfully overturned Roe during Trump's first term, many conservatives are anxious that Kennedy may not prioritize policies aimed at limiting access to abortion. They cite his inconsistent record on the issue, which drew criticism from the MAGA base throughout his campaign, as a reason not to view him as a trustworthy ally.
"There's no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary, and of course, we have concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” remarked SBA Pro-Life President Marjorie Dannenfelser, emphasizing that her organization will continue to advocate for reinstating a “baseline” set of anti-abortion policies from Trump’s initial term.
Before suspending his own presidential campaign to endorse Trump, Kennedy reversed several positions on abortion. Initially, he hired anti-abortion activist Angela Stanton King and advocated for a national ban on the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy, only to later renounce that position. He has both stated that “every abortion is a tragedy” and identified as “pro-choice,” asserting that “it is always the woman’s right to choose,” linking this viewpoint to his anti-vaccine activism under the concept of “medical freedom.”
In late April, facing persistent questioning from reporters, Kennedy added an abortion policy section to his campaign website, suggesting that funds currently allocated to support Ukraine be redirected to “a massive subsidized daycare initiative” intended to “dramatically reduce abortion in this country.” This plan lacked specifics on how he would approach either state or federal measures to restrict abortion.
Now, several anti-abortion advocates express disappointment that other candidates rumored to be in the running for HHS secretary—who possess executive branch experience and have established anti-abortion policy records, such as former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson or former Trump administration health official Roger Severino—were overlooked.
“A lot of my friends [said during the campaign], ‘Hey, look, you may not like President Trump. You may think that he's not suited for the office. But think of the people who he will appoint. Think of what a pro-life HHS secretary can do with the way that they interpret regulations and executive actions,’” remarked Patrick Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center. “But based on the things we know RFK cares about, abortion is going to be just way down on the list.”
Nevertheless, even conservatives who are angered by the nomination recognize the need for caution and wish to avoid alienating Trump and the MAGA base by openly opposing Kennedy’s appointment. Some anti-abortion advocates are still optimistic about the potential for collaboration with Kennedy on implementing federal restrictions, if they can frame their messaging to align with his interests.
“The smart move here is not to try to derail his nomination. The smart move is to try to get senators to pressure him during the confirmation process to adopt the kind of pro-life policies that we had under the first Trump administration,” suggested a Republican strategist working with anti-abortion groups, who spoke anonymously to provide an honest opinion on the appointment. “I think that there’s a real great opportunity to get him to do the right thing.”
Students for Life of America intends to capitalize on that opportunity by presenting Kennedy with their theory that abortion pills are polluting the U.S. water supply. The organization is working to arrange a meeting to discuss how their efforts to restrict access to these drugs align with his broader vision.
"We look forward to talking with RFK Jr. about our 'Make America Healthy Again' plans to address abortion water pollution," stated Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, adding: "RFK Jr. has a proven track record of holding healthcare bureaucrats accountable for putting public health first, over political interests."
Like this content? Consider signing up for PMG’s West Wing Playbook newsletter.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
