Trump to Appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Head of HHS
This decision will stir significant controversy among public health experts following his prolonged promotion of discredited assertions linking vaccines to autism.
TroibNews 
President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and anti-vaccine activist, to head the Department of Health and Human Services. This decision is likely to alarm many public health experts and follows Trump's commitment to allow Kennedy to take a strong approach to health and food policy after Kennedy withdrew from his presidential race to support Trump.
This nomination reflects the opportunities Trump perceives following his decisive electoral victory, coupled with the Republicans' solid majority in the Senate.
"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," Trump stated on X. "The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country."
Kennedy, who is 70, may encounter significant challenges during the confirmation process due to his history of making unsubstantiated claims linking vaccines to autism. He has also authored a book alleging that former NIH official Anthony Fauci collaborated with Bill Gates and drug companies to promote Covid-19 vaccines, and he has described regulatory officials as being beholden to industry interests.
Sen. John Cornyn commented that Kennedy would be treated like any other nominee. "I don’t have any preconceived notion about it,” he remarked, adding that he expects Kennedy's vaccine stance to be a topic of discussion during confirmation efforts.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated skepticism about Kennedy’s suitability for the role. “Is RFK Jr. the best qualified person in the United States of America to lead us forward as we grapple with an enormous amount of health challenges in this country? The answer is clearly he is not,” Jeffries stated.
In recent media appearances, Kennedy has asserted that he does not plan to remove vaccines from public access. “I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them,” he told MSNBC the day after Trump’s electoral victory.
Additionally, he suggested that the Trump administration would advise against fluoride in drinking water, which is commonly added to reduce cavities. He claimed that fluoride is “almost certainly” linked to a decline in children's IQ, in line with some research findings.
Ursula Perano and Ben Leonard contributed to this report.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
This nomination reflects the opportunities Trump perceives following his decisive electoral victory, coupled with the Republicans' solid majority in the Senate.
"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," Trump stated on X. "The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country."
Kennedy, who is 70, may encounter significant challenges during the confirmation process due to his history of making unsubstantiated claims linking vaccines to autism. He has also authored a book alleging that former NIH official Anthony Fauci collaborated with Bill Gates and drug companies to promote Covid-19 vaccines, and he has described regulatory officials as being beholden to industry interests.
Sen. John Cornyn commented that Kennedy would be treated like any other nominee. "I don’t have any preconceived notion about it,” he remarked, adding that he expects Kennedy's vaccine stance to be a topic of discussion during confirmation efforts.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated skepticism about Kennedy’s suitability for the role. “Is RFK Jr. the best qualified person in the United States of America to lead us forward as we grapple with an enormous amount of health challenges in this country? The answer is clearly he is not,” Jeffries stated.
In recent media appearances, Kennedy has asserted that he does not plan to remove vaccines from public access. “I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them,” he told MSNBC the day after Trump’s electoral victory.
Additionally, he suggested that the Trump administration would advise against fluoride in drinking water, which is commonly added to reduce cavities. He claimed that fluoride is “almost certainly” linked to a decline in children's IQ, in line with some research findings.
Ursula Perano and Ben Leonard contributed to this report.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
