Robert F. Kennedy Jr in Senate hearing: ‘I’m not against vaccines’

Former environmental lawyer chosen by Trump as health secretary

Washington, 29 January 2025 – Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health, addressed his Senate confirmation hearing today, seeking to clarify his position on vaccines. ‘I’m not anti-vaccine,’ Kennedy said, pointing out that this phrase appears at both the beginning and end of a book he wrote in 2014. The 71-year-old son of Bob Kennedy is known for his past statements in which he linked vaccines to autism, drawing criticism from the scientific community.

During the hearing, Kennedy outlined his priorities, including a plan to encourage healthy eating through federal aid programmes for American families and schools. During his speech, he also made a joke about President Trump, jokingly calling him his ‘boss’. ‘I don’t want to take food away from anybody. If you like McDonald’s cheeseburgers, which my boss loves, you should be able to have them,’ he said, eliciting laughter from the senators present. He added: ‘But you should know what the impacts are on your family and your health’.

If confirmed, Kennedy will lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a key role in the Trump administration’s health policies. His nomination has raised debates, especially for his controversial positions on vaccines and public health.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)