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(New York, NY) – President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and former presidential candidate, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Many public health experts are surprised by this choice. Trump said he wants Kennedy to address problems with food and drug industries, which he claims have misled the public. Trump shared on social media that protecting Americans from harmful chemicals and additives is a top priority.
Kennedy, 70, thanked Trump for the opportunity and said he wants to end corruption in health agencies. He promised to give Americans more access to health data so they can make informed decisions. However, Kennedy’s past anti-vaccine statements and claims about COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies could make it hard for him to get confirmed in the Senate.
Senator John Cornyn said Kennedy would be evaluated like other nominees, but some expect Kennedy’s views to be questioned. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed doubts about Kennedy’s qualifications for the role.
