Trump Appoints Vaccine Skeptic RFK Jr. as Health Secretary

Kennedy, commonly known by the initials RFK Jr., has a history of spreading health information that scientists claim is incorrect. If his candidacy is approved by the Senate, he will lead a large agency that oversees everything from food safety to medical research and welfare programs. This announcement comes amid a new wave of candidacies following Trump’s intention to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior on Thursday evening. Trump stated on Friday that he would officially announce Burgum as a selected candidate running against former businessman for the Republican presidential nomination. Speculation had increased that Trump plans to give Kennedy a significant role in health care. During the victory party on election night, he told supporters that Kennedy wants to "help make America healthy again." Trump asserted, "Americans have long been crushed by the industrial food complex and pharmaceutical companies that deceive, misinform, and spread disinformation when it comes to public health. Mr. Kennedy will return these Agencies to the Gold Standard Scientific Research traditions and Transparency beacons, end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and Make America Great and Healthy Again!" The candidate comes from one of the most famous families in Democratic politics; he is the son of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960s. He is known for criticizing childhood vaccines, having stated in an interview last year, "I believe that vaccines cause autism." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a national public health agency overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "Many studies have investigated whether there is a link between vaccines and ASD [autism spectrum disorder]. The studies conducted to date continue to show that vaccines are not associated with ASD." Kennedy, who struggled with heroin addiction for 14 years in his youth, has also mentioned wanting to address America's substance abuse crisis.