President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate and outspoken vaccine skeptic, will be appointed as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The appointment, which still requires Senate confirmation, comes after Kennedy dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump during the 2024 election campaign.
In a post on his Truth Social platform Thursday, Trump declared, “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 added that Kennedy would make America “great and healthy again,” referencing the slogan from his presidential campaign.
Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, is best known for his work as an environmental lawyer and his controversial stance on vaccines.
Over the years, Kennedy has led the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense and gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for questioning vaccine safety. He has repeatedly stated that he is not anti-vaccine but has challenged the scientific consensus, including his claim that “no vaccine is safe and effective.”
If confirmed, Kennedy will oversee the vast HHS department, which manages critical areas such as drugs, food safety, medical research, and welfare programs. He has promised to transform the agency, including replacing 600 employees who oversee vaccine research and implementing measures to prevent scientists from leaving to work in the pharmaceutical industry.
Kennedy’s vision for the Department of Health and Human Services involves a shift away from infectious disease research, focusing instead on what he calls the “chronic disease epidemic” in America.
He blames corporations and food producers for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, autism, and mental illness, arguing that harmful pesticides and industrial food practices contribute to these public health challenges.
Kennedy has also proposed sweeping reforms, including a ban on drugmaker advertisements on TV and ending the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) “aggressive suppression” of alternative therapies like psychedelics and stem cells.
Trump had earlier pledged a “big role” for Kennedy in his administration in exchange for his support during the election, and reports had circulated that Kennedy’s preferred position was that of Health Secretary.
In confirming the appointment, Trump said Thursday at a gala event at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida, “We want you to come up with things… and ideas… and what you’ve been talking about for a long time. I think you’re going to do some unbelievable things. Nobody’s going to be able to do it like you.”
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was the first to announce the appointment, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Robert F Kennedy Jr will be The Secretary of Health and Human Services! Promises Made Promises Kept.”
The nomination has sparked mixed reactions. Some public health officials have voiced concerns about Kennedy’s qualifications for such a critical position.
Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the public health watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest, said, “Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is not remotely qualified for the role and should be nowhere near the science-based agencies that safeguard our nutrition, food safety, and health.”
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However, the appointment has garnered support from some corners, including Democratic Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, who expressed excitement, stating that Kennedy would “shake up the FDA.”
Kennedy’s nomination is also set to face opposition from the powerful pharmaceutical lobby in Washington, given his history of challenging the industry.
He has argued that the pharmaceutical industry has too much influence over public health policies, and he has committed to ensuring that agencies like the FDA return to “Gold Standard Scientific Research” and become “beacons of Transparency.”
In his Truth Social post, Trump emphasized the significance of health and safety in his administration, saying, “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration.”
He reiterated that Kennedy would play a critical role in tackling the country’s health crisis, adding that his leadership would “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 has repeatedly promoted Kennedy Jr at rallies during his election campaign, saying that if elected, he would “let him go wild” on health policy.
The Health and Human Services Department, which Kennedy Jr is poised to lead, oversees critical public health bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Medicare, Medicaid, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Kennedy has promised to reshape these agencies, shifting their focus to the chronic diseases he believes are largely driven by corporate practices.
