US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen controversial politician and vaccine skeptic Robert F Kennedy Jr to be Secretary of Well being and Human Providers, a place he lobbied for when he suspended his personal election marketing campaign and supported that of the Republican candidate.
“I’m delighted to announce Robert F Kennedy Jr as United States Secretary of Well being and Human Providers. [HHS]Trump wrote Thursday on his social media platform, Fact Social.
“For too lengthy, People have been crushed by the meals industrial complicated and pharmaceutical firms which have engaged in deception, misinformation and disinformation in relation to public well being.”
Excessive profile and controversial
Kennedy is a controversial however not stunning appointment. He ran for president, first as a Democrat after which as an unbiased, earlier than abandoning his candidacy in August and endorsing Trump in change for a task in a future administration.
“It's going to assist make America wholesome once more,” Trump mentioned in his victory speech on Nov. 6. “He desires to do some issues and we'll let him do them.”
The Division of Well being and Human Providers is in control of virtually every part associated to well being on the federal stage in america.
It oversees the Meals and Drug Administration, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, and the large Medicare and Medicaid Providers packages, which give well being protection to individuals with restricted incomes, individuals age 65 or older. extra and disabled individuals. .
Kennedy has been a part of the transition group and has reviewed resumes of candidates for jobs within the division.
Kennedy's selection is only one of a sequence of picks Trump has made in current days for his Cupboard, if he can get them confirmed by the Senate.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has been working for Secretary of State, a selection that obtained widespread approval.
Extra controversial has been his choice of outspoken congressman Matt Gaetz as lawyer normal, Fox Information host Pete Hegseth as protection secretary and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of nationwide intelligence.
False medical claims
Kennedy can even convey some issues of his personal.
He has been criticized for making false medical claims, together with that vaccines are linked to autism. He opposed state and federal restrictions imposed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and was accused of spreading misinformation in regards to the virus.
He has additionally mentioned he would advocate eradicating fluoride from ingesting water. The addition of the fabric has been cited as main to raised dental well being.
historic household
Kennedy comes from a household of outstanding Democratic politicians. His uncle was former President John F. Kennedy, assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. His father, Robert F. Kennedy, former lawyer normal and United States senator, was additionally shot to dying 5 years later whereas working for the elections. the White Home.
Kennedy turned a outstanding environmental lawyer as founding father of the Waterkeeper Alliance, which was initially fashioned to scrub up New York's Hudson River. The group grew to turn out to be the most important nonprofit group targeted on clear water and expanded to 48 international locations.
Kennedy suffers from a speech obstacle known as spasmodic dysphonia, which causes the muscle tissues of the larynx to spasm.
His priorities now concentrate on human well being, addressing what he calls the “continual illness epidemic” that features situations similar to weight problems, diabetes and autism, and lowering chemical substances in meals.
Kennedy has urged that he would dismantle the 18,000-employee Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) – which ensures the security of meals, medicine and medical units – and substitute lots of of workers on the Nationwide Institutes. of Well being.
He has accused the FDA of waging battle on product choices that he says may assist human well being, similar to uncooked milk, sure nutritional vitamins and stem cell remedy. He additionally doubts the effectiveness of measles vaccines.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy claimed that the virus was designed to assault Caucasians and Black individuals, sparing Chinese language and Ashkenazi Jews.
He additionally spoke of struggling well being results from a worm that entered his mind, ate part of it, and died.
His controversial views have led his circle of relatives to disown him. “Bobby could share the identical title as our father, however he doesn’t share the identical values, imaginative and prescient or standards,” his brothers mentioned in a press release printed in X. “We denounce his candidacy and imagine it’s harmful for our nation. “
Taken collectively, these views may additionally increase questions on his capacity to be confirmed even in a Republican-controlled Senate.
Nonetheless, he has turn out to be shut pals with Trump, who basically seems to be giving Kennedy free rein to alter US well being companies.
“Mr. Kennedy will restore these companies to the traditions of Gold Normal scientific analysis and the beacons of transparency, to finish the continual illness epidemic and make America nice and wholesome once more!” Trump mentioned in his assertion.
In truth, Kennedy's first problem would be the consuming habits of his new boss, who is known for his penchant for quick meals.
He just lately mentioned in an interview with the Joe Polish present that Trump's food regimen was very dangerous and that the meals on the marketing campaign airplane was “virtually poison.”