President-elect Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist, to head the Department of Health and Human Services in his administration. Kennedy, whose views on public health, particularly regarding vaccines, have been widely criticized as dangerous, will oversee key areas including drug and vaccine safety, food safety, medical research, and social welfare programs. His nomination has raised concerns, given his history of promoting debunked claims about vaccines.
Making the announcement on Truth Social, Donald Trump said on Thursday, “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.”
Kennedy, Donald Trump said, would “end the Chronic Disease epidemic” and “Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
Shortly after the announcement, Kennedy posted on social media platform X, “Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your leadership and courage. I’m committed to advancing your vision to Make America Healthy Again. We have a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic.”
“Together we will clean up corruption, stop the revolving door between industry and government, and return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science. I will provide Americans with transparency and access to all the data so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families,” he added.
Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr?
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a leading figure in the anti-vaccine movement, known for strongly promoting the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism and other health issues. He comes from the influential Kennedy family, being the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Originally, Kennedy ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024 but later switched to an independent campaign. However, he eventually aligned himself with the Republican Party, endorsing Donald Trump in exchange for a promise to give him a major health-related role in Trump’s second term.
Kennedy and Trump have developed a close relationship since then, with both campaigning together in the final stretch of the race. Trump made it clear that he intended to appoint Kennedy to oversee public health, as part of a broader initiative to “Make America Healthy Again.” This partnership has been controversial, as it combines Kennedy’s outspoken anti-vaccine stance with Trump’s populist approach, raising concerns about the alignment of their health policies with mainstream scientific and medical consensus.
