President-elect Donald Trump has nominated the former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS),” Trump announced on X, formerly Twitter. “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.”
He continued: “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.”
Trump went on to say that 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!”
Kennedy gained Trump’s favor after he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed the president-elect. Trump repeatedly sang Kennedy’s praises on the campaign trail, pledging that in a second Trump administration, Kennedy would have carte blanche to “do what he wants” with women’s health and that Kennedy could generally “go wild” on health-related matters.
“He’s going to help make America healthy again,” Trump said during his victory speech after winning the election last week. “He wants to do some things, and we’re going to let him get to it. Go have a good time, Bobby.”
Kennedy will likely face a steep uphill battle at his Senate confirmation hearings. He has a long history of endorsing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, and suggested in his book that Dr. Anthony Fauci, who spearheaded the US’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, conspired with Bill Gates to sell COVID-19 vaccines.
Trump’s decision to nominate Kennedy as the nation’s chief health official is likely to send shockwaves through the public health community.
It may also come as a surprise to Trump’s own advisers, many of whom had ruled out nominating Kennedy to lead the Health and Human Services department, The Guardian reported last week.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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