In a striking move, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental advocate known for spreading dubious claims about vaccines, to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the preeminent health agency in the United States.
Kennedy, who once pursued the presidency as an independent candidate earlier this year, withdrew from the race in August. He subsequently threw his support behind Trump, looking to secure a position within the Republican administration as part of the exchange.
In a jubilant announcement on social media, Trump expressed his excitement, stating that he was “thrilled” by the decision and believed that his former opponent “would make America great and healthy again!”
Trump elaborated on the significance of the health agency, asserting, “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.”
Expressing his enthusiasm, Trump tweeted, “I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). 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 …” — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2024.
With HHS overseeing Medicaid and Medicare, the agency boasts a hefty budget of $3.09 trillion (€3.17 trillion) for the fiscal year 2024, which represents a staggering 22.8% of the entire US federal budget.
As for Kennedy’s health priorities, he carries a legacy as the son and nephew of iconic figures in Democratic politics. Recently, he has played a role in Trump’s transition team, reviewing candidate resumes for critical positions within U.S. health agencies.
Through posts on X and various interviews, Kennedy has conveyed a focus on tackling what he describes as the “chronic disease epidemic.” This includes addressing issues like obesity, diabetes, and even autism, along with advocating for a reduction in chemicals found in food products.
Despite the astronomical spending on healthcare and pharmaceuticals in the U.S., citizens remain unhealthier than their counterparts in other wealthy nations, according to a 2023 report by the Commonwealth Fund.
Kennedy has also hinted at significant cuts within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which currently employs 18,000 personnel. He has proposed to replace numerous staff members at the National Institutes of Health, an agency critical for medical research.
When it comes to vaccines, Kennedy has faced ample criticism, particularly for promoting misleading claims connecting vaccines to autism. He has vocally opposed various government mandates imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning accusations of disseminating inaccurate information regarding the virus.
Defending his stance, Kennedy rejects the “anti-vaccine” label, arguing that he advocates for enhanced testing of vaccines instead. However, he has chaired Children’s Health Defense, an organization that has concentrated on spreading anti-vaccine messages.
During an interview earlier this year while still in the race for the presidency, Kennedy clarified that Americans desiring vaccines for themselves or their children would retain that option should he take office. However, he voiced skepticism regarding the effectiveness of measles vaccines.
Measles, famously known as one of the most contagious viruses affecting humans, can be almost entirely prevented through vaccination—achieving at least 95% coverage is essential to stop outbreaks. Alarmingly, recent data from the CDC indicates that vaccination rates in the United States have dipped below this crucial threshold among young children.
Kennedy, who initially sought the Democratic nomination before switching to an independent campaign, faced a tumultuous journey marked and marred by widely publicized controversies.
During his campaign, he infamously admitted in a video that a decade ago, he had once left a deceased bear in New York City’s Central Park, arranging it to appear as though a bicycle had collided with it. “I’ve got so many skeletons in my closet,” he remarked after a former babysitter accused him of sexual assault, further adding fuel to the fire of speculation about his past.
Additionally, his campaign acknowledged reports of a severe brain parasite he had years ago, though he has since claimed a full recovery.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
