Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice for health secretary, began meeting with Republican lawmakers late Monday afternoon to make his case for a spot in Mr. Trump’s cabinet.
Mr. Kennedy, in the first of more than 20 planned meetings with Republicans, visited Senator Rick Scott of Florida, a staunch ally of Mr. Trump who has predicted that Mr. Kennedy will be confirmed to the post, despite facing scrutiny over his longtime anti-vaccine advocacy.
“What he wants with vaccines is, which is what I believe in, is transparency,” Mr. Scott told CNN after the meeting.
Mr. Kennedy is expected to be questioned repeatedly about his views on vaccines and his stance on abortion access, which some social conservatives have criticized. He has said that he does not want to take away access to vaccines, but has questioned their safety, trying to link them to a rise in autism in children — a debunked theory.
On Friday, The New York Times reported that a lawyer helping Mr. Kennedy vet appointees for the incoming Trump administration had petitioned the government to revoke its approval of the polio vaccine. Seemingly in an effort to distance himself from the petition, Mr. Kennedy told reporters on Monday that he was “all for” the shot.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader and a survivor of polio, suggested in a statement Friday that the petition could jeopardize Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation.
“Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts,” said Mr. McConnell, who could be a key vote in Mr. Kennedy’s confirmation.
At a news conference Monday at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, Mr. Trump had praise for both Mr. Kennedy as well as the polio vaccine: He said that he was a “big believer” in the vaccination.
“You’re not going to lose the polio vaccine,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s not going to happen.” Dr. Jonas Salk, who created the polio vaccine, had done a “great job,” he added.
Mr. Kennedy, he suggested, as health secretary would be “much less radical than you would think.”
“I think he’s got a very open mind or I wouldn’t have put him there,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s going to be very much less radical.”
Asked whether he believed there was a link between vaccines and autism, Mr. Trump cited increasing rates of autism in recent decades, suggesting there could be a relationship — a theory discredited by dozens of studies.
“There’s something wrong,” he said. “And we’re going to find out about it.”
Once nominated by a president, candidates for top-level positions in an administration must be confirmed by the Senate. Republicans will control the chamber, but their 53-47 majority means they can lose only a few votes and still confirm Mr. Trump’s picks.
Mr. Kennedy is also set to meet this week with Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a more moderate Republican, and some physicians in the party’s conference, including Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas.
Mr. Kennedy, who ran for president as a Democrat and independent before dropping out of the race and endorsing Mr. Trump, will probably also be asked about views on abortion access.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has called on Republican senators to reject Mr. Kennedy, citing his record of support for abortion rights.
“On behalf of tens of millions of pro-life Americans, I respectfully urge Senate Republicans to reject this nomination and give the American people a leader who will respect the sanctity of life as secretary of Health and Human Services,” Mr. Pence said in a statement.
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