Trump picks vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr for health secretary

Donald Trump has picked former independent presidential candidate and vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr to be in charge of the US Department of Health and Human Services, as he builds his incoming administration.

The role, which still has to be approved by the Senate, would mean Kennedy could lead a huge agency that oversees areas from drugs, food safety, medical research to welfare programmes.

“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 said Thursday in a post on his Truth Social site when he announced the appointment.

He added that Kennedy would make America “great and healthy again”, referencing his campaign slogan.

Kennedy, who is also known as RFK Jr, hails from a famous political dynasty. The nephew of President John F. Kennedy, he was a successful environmental lawyer who took on large corporations such as Monsanto.

Over the past two decades, he has increasingly devoted time to promoting his views on vaccinations, taking over the anti-vaccine non-profit Children’s Health Defence which gained traction during the pandemic.

Kennedy insists he is not anti-vaccination and has never told the public to avoid vaccinations, however has repeatedly made his own opposition clear, previously contradicting scientific consensus by saying there is “no vaccine that is safe and effective.”

He has also questioned whether HIV causes aids and suggested antidepressants lead to school shootings.

Overhaul of US public health

If he made it to the role, he has promised a transformation of America’s health agency, including replacing 600 employees who oversee vaccine research and generally preventing employees, who are often researchers and scientists, from leaving the agency to work for the pharmaceutical industry.

Kennedy has said he wants to redirect the public health establishment’s focus away from infectious diseases towards problems he says make up the “chronic disease epidemic” including obesity, diabetes, autism and mental illnesses, which he blames on corporations and food producers who use harmful pesticides.

His nomination is set to be opposed by the members of the pharmaceutical lobby in Washington, as he has proposed sweeping changes including banning drugmakers from advertising on TV.

In a post on X last month, Kennedy vowed to end the US Food and Drug Administration’s “aggressive suppression” of therapies such as psychedelics and stem cells.

Kennedy ran as an independent candidate before dropping out and endorsing Trump — who promised him a role in health policy in his upcoming administration.

Senior members of Trump’s campaign had said that Kennedy would not have an official role in the administration but would have influence over vaccination programmes.

His nomination has caused mixed reactions among Republicans and Democrats alike, with some public health officials condemning the move.

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“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is not remotely qualified for the role and should be nowhere near the science-based agencies that safeguard our nutrition, food safety, and health,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the public health watchdog group Centre for Science in the Public Interest.

Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, said he was “excited” about Kennedy’s appointment, adding he would shake up the FDA.

Trump had repeatedly promoted Kennedy at rallies during his election campaign, saying he would let him “go wild” on health if he made it to office.

Video editor • Evelyn Ann-Marie Dom

Additional sources • AP