Who Is RFK Jr., Trump's Nominee for Health Secretary?

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services sparked concern and criticism in the medical community. But can he make America healthy again? Let’s dive into his agenda.

In his announcement, President-elect Donald Trump said that Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies, who engaged in "deception, misinformation, and disinformation" regarding public health.

"Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies 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 wrote on X, a social network.

RFK Jr., a lawyer by education, is a notorious vaccine skeptic known for promoting conspiracy theories. The nomination sent shock waves in the medical community, whose members warned about the risks posed by appointing RFK Jr. as health czar.

Apu Akdad, an infectious disease physician, called the nomination "a scary day for public health," emphasizing the importance of making public health decisions based on robust evidence.

Andrea Love, immunologist and executive director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, said Kennedy's appointment as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is dangerous because he spent 40 years "eroding scientific trust and public health."

She wrote on X, "For us, our health, the planet, science innovation, other countries. This will cause immense harm."

Alastair McAlpine, a palliative pediatrician, called the nomination a terrible decision, saying the last time RFK Jr. meddled in a state's medical affairs, 83 children died of measles in Samoa.

In 2018, two infants in American Samoa died after nurses accidentally prepared the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine with expired muscle relaxants rather than water. This resulted in the temporal suspension of the vaccination program, which was exploited by Kennedy and his non-profit, Children's Health Defense, to spread vaccine misinformation.

As the vaccination rates plummeted, the disease brought to the island by a traveler killed 83 children and sickened over 5,700 people. Kennedy, who visited the island before the outbreak, denied any role in spreading vaccine skepticism.

Measles is a highly infectious disease that may result in encephalitis, pneumonia, and even death. In the United States, the measles vaccination coverage for kindergartners fell to 92.7% in the 2023-24 school year, falling behind the 95% target needed in the community to prevent outbreaks, the CDC data shows.

Kennedy has recently said that more medical expertise is not needed at the HHS, calling for expertise on "decoupling the agency from institutional corruption." He expressed hope to fire every nutritional scientist across HSS and the Department of Agriculture.

RFK Jr.'s nomination to lead the HHS needs to be approved by the Senate, which is now controlled by Republicans.

What is known about RFK Jr.'s views?

While RFK Jr. claims he is not against vaccines, he previously said that "there's no vaccine that is safe and effective" and discouraged people from vaccinating their children against COVID-19. Kennedy has also promoted a debunked conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism spectrum disorder.

Kennedy was caught on camera saying that COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, while Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese are the most immune to the disease, the video obtained by the New York Post reveals.

There is no robust data to support the causal relationship between antidepressants and school shootings. Meanwhile, the authors of a widely cited report from 2018 that links psychiatric drugs and violence are closely associated with the Church of Scientology, known for its strong opposition to psychiatry.

Speaking on Joe Rogan's podcast, Kennedy claimed that Wi-Fi radiation causes cancer, particularly fast-growing glioblastomas.

While cell phones emit very low levels of radiofrequency (RF) energy, a type of radiation, studies didn't find a widespread rise in brain and other nervous system cancers in the last 30, when the use of cell phones drastically increased. On the contrary, the rate of brain cancer in the U.S. for the last 15 years or so, according to the FDA.

Kennedy proposed to remove fluoride from drinking water systems, which he called "an industrial waste" associated with conditions like arthritis, bone cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders, among others.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in many foods and water that helps prevent tooth decay. About 70% of Americans have access to fluoridated tap water. Fluoride may have negative health effects in doses much higher than found in drinking water.

A recent report from the National Toxicology Program added more fuel to the already heated fluoride discussion by associating exposure to high levels of fluoride with lower IQ levels in children. The conclusions were based on studies involving fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics questioned the validity of the report and continued to recommend adding fluoride to drinking water.

Kennedy told Healthnews in early 2024 that a "review of the heads of regulatory agencies is needed, and those with a history of protecting corrupt corporations over the public good need to be replaced with top scientists in each field who have shown a dedication to scientific integrity throughout their careers."

Will RFK Jr. make America healthy again?

RFK Jr. leads a political action committee, Make America Healthy Again (MAHA), whose agenda may offer insights on what to expect under his leadership.

The MAHA aims to tackle the chronic disease epidemic, which includes addressing the root causes, according to its website. The PAC supports preventative healthcare, increased access to nutritious food, and reduced environmental factors contributing to chronic illnesses.

According to Kennedy's op-ed, published in the Wall Street Journal, one way to do this is to devote half of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research budgets to preventive, alternative, and holistic approaches to health.

The MAHA's agenda involves supporting policies that incentivize sustainable farming practices, improve soil health, reduce chemical usage, and increase biodiversity.

Eliminating "harmful chemicals and toxins from America's food, water, and air" is listed among the MAHA's top priorities.

"MAHA advocates for comprehensive testing and monitoring of environmental toxins to ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe, and healthy living conditions," the agenda reads.

Kennedy has previously voiced his concern over the use of glyphosate, one of the most popular weed killers globally, the use of which is banned or restricted in several European countries over worries that it could increase the risk of cancer.

The nominee has also called for a crackdown on food additives and processed foods.

"Kids shouldn't be eating grains. They should definitely not be eating seed oils. And they for sure should not be eating sugar," Kennedy said.

Excessive intake of ultra-processed foods like packaged meals and carbonated drinks is linked to 32 types of health problems, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, children consuming excessive sugar may experience metabolic outcomes, including fatty liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, and inflammatory conditions.

In his Wall Street Journal op-ed, Kennedy suggested reviewing direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ad guidelines, raising concerns pharmaceutical advertising on TV may affect the coverage of health issues.