President-elect Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the U.S. health secretary, a decision that sparked widespread debate. Health experts and political leaders quickly condemned the move, saying that Kennedy is unfit to lead public health due to his frequent circulation of baseless claims about vaccines and health issues.
Who Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hails from one of the most renowned families in Democratic politics. RFK Jr. is the son of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F.
The 70-year-old environmental lawyer initially launched a Democratic primary campaign against President Joe Biden but later pursued the presidency as an independent.
He eventually ended his campaign and endorsed Donald Trump, appearing with him at a rally party in August 2024.
President-elect Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently shared a McDonald’s meal, just days after RFK Jr. publicly criticized Trump’s fast-food habits.
Kennedy called Trump’s diet “poison” during a recent interview on “The Joe Polish Show.”
Trump Nominates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As U.S. Health Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as his health secretary on November 14.
This move sparks widespread debate as the Senate prepares to consider his nomination. If confirmed, Kennedy will oversee the Department of Health and Human Services, managing responsibilities like food safety, medical research, and welfare programs.
In a statement, Trump said he was “thrilled to announce” Kennedy's nomination.
He emphasized Kennedy's commitment to reforming public health by addressing issues like the influence of the industrial food sector and pharmaceutical companies.
“Mr Kennedy will restore these Agencies [Health and Human Services] to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Trump said.
Trump's Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Widely Condemned
President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary ignited criticism from health experts and political leaders.
RFK Jr. has a controversial history of spreading health claims that scientists have debunked.
Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association (APHA), strongly opposed the nomination, describing Kennedy as unfit for the position.
“He is not competent by training, management skills, temperament or trust to have this job. He's just absolutely the wrong guy for it,” Benjamin said.
He further accused Kennedy of causing “great damage” to public health through spreading health misinformation.
Democratic leaders also condemned the pick. Senator Patty Murray called the nomination “catastrophic,” calling Kennedy a "fringe conspiracy theorist."
“Public Citizen,” a progressive nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy, issued a statement, calling Kennedy “a clear and present danger to the nation’s health.”
The organization emphasized that Kennedy “shouldn’t be allowed in the building at the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS), let alone be placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.”
Apurva Akkad, an infectious disease physician at the University of Southern California, expressed deep concern, labeling Kennedy's nomination “a scary day for public health.”
Alastair McAlpine, a pediatric physician at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital, criticized the decision as “terrible,” highlighting Kennedy’s lack of medical training and history as a “hardcore anti-vaccine and misinformation peddler.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Most Controversial Claims
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as health secretary has reignited scrutiny over his controversial health claims, including his long-standing skepticism toward vaccines.
Kennedy has repeatedly criticized childhood vaccines, saying in an interview last year that “autism comes from vaccines.”
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), firmly stated, “Many studies have looked at whether there is a relationship between vaccines and ASD [autism spectrum disorder]. To date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with ASD.”
Kennedy has also opposed the existence of fluoride in drinking water, claiming it is “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease.”
The CDC, however, identifies fluoride as a key mineral that strengthens teeth and reduces cavities.
Prof. Avijit Banerjee of King’s College London dismissed Kennedy’s claims, noting that “the potential harmful effects of fluoride cited have not been associated with the very low levels of fluoride used in water fluoridation programmes.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal critic of COVID-19 restrictions, has sparked controversy with unfounded claims about the virus too.
At a press event last year, Kennedy alleged that COVID-19 “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people,” while suggesting Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese individuals were “most immune.”
Health specialists dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the virus does not target any specific ethnic group.
Furthermore, Kennedy shared a baseless claim about additives in foods and the role ultra-processed foods (UPFs) play in diets.
He also associated UPFs with a range of medical conditions including cancers in young adults and mental health conditions.
Recent research links many health problems, such as cancers, obesity, and depression, to diet. However, no evidence currently proves that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) directly cause these health conditions.
