Here’s What An RFK Jr. Health Role In A Trump Administration Could Look Like: Vaccine Skepticism, Fluoride Ban
Topline
Former President Donald Trump has indicated he would appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—a noted vaccine skeptic, conspiracy theorist and former independent presidential candidate—to a key health role in his administration, which Kennedy has already signaled he would use to seek to remove fluoride from water, though the role and his plans remain vague.
Key Facts
Trump said last week he would let Kennedy “go wild” on health in his administration, but has not stated what role Kennedy would be appointed to, though the Washington Post reported Trump may appoint him to a “health czar” role, circumventing the Senate confirmation he would need to lead a government agency.
Kennedy said in a social media post he would seek to remove fluoride—a mineral added to drinking water that has been credited with improving dental health and preventing cavities—from tap water (which Trump said “sounds OK”), though health and dental experts maintain fluoride is beneficial.
In other social media posts, Kennedy said he would seek to “get toxins out of our food,” remove corporate influence from government agencies and ban pharmaceutical advertising.
NBC News reported last week Kennedy could head an initiative sources described as “Operation Warp Speed for childhood chronic disease,” speculating Kennedy may target obesity and diabetes in children.
Kennedy, who has repeatedly spread misinformation about vaccines, including the debunked theory vaccines cause autism, posted on social media last month he is “not going to take anyone’s vaccines away” and wants people to be aware of “the risk profile and the efficacy of each vaccine.”
Trump, however, has refused to rule out vaccine bans as president, and said he would consult Kennedy and others before making a decision, while his transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick said Kennedy wants access to federal data about health to pull vaccines he deems “unsafe” from the market.
What Can Kennedy Really Do About Vaccines?
Some public health experts doubt Kennedy would be able to change much about the way vaccines are approved and regulated, even if he were to head an agency like the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lawrence O. Gostin, a Georgetown University public health law expert, told the New York Times Trump would likely not be able to ban certain vaccines, even if he gives Kennedy a health post, stating Trump can’t unilaterally ban vaccines regulated by the FDA without a legal fight. Trump could, however, pressure the FDA to revoke approvals for vaccines and appoint court justices prone to limiting the power of federal agencies. American Public Health Association executive director Georges Benjamin told CNBC Kennedy could try to appoint people who share his vaccine views to FDA and CDC advisory panels, which make vaccine approval and use recommendations, but said states could ignore these recommendations. Some health experts voiced fears, though, that Kennedy would have a larger platform to spread vaccine misinformation and potentially discourage more Americans from getting vaccinated. Drew Altman, CEO of health policy research firm KFF, told CNBC many more people “will hear what [Kennedy] has to say, believe it and act on it,” potentially posing health risks. Some health experts fear cases of diseases like measles could continue to rise, as children’s vaccine rates have already been falling.
What Has Kennedy Said About Vaccines And Other Conspiracies?
Kennedy’s stances on vaccines, fluoride and other health issues have been slammed by health experts and organizations for having roots in conspiracy theories. He has repeatedly made false claims that vaccines cause autism and chaired the Children’s Health Defense, an organization that says it wants to end childhood health crises but is a source of vaccine misinformation. He compared vaccine mandates to the Holocaust in 2022, which he apologized for, and was previously banned by YouTube and Instagram for spreading misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine. He also made other bizarre claims about Covid-19, including that it was “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” and “the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” Kennedy also made misleading claims that fluoride is associated with a variety of conditions, including IQ loss and bone diseases. Though some studies have indicated links between high levels of fluoride in drinking water and lower IQ in children and bone conditions, health experts say the amount of fluoride needed to cause these conditions is much higher than what is typically in drinking water.
Surprising Fact
Kennedy does not have any scientific or medical credentials. Prior to his political career, he was an environmental lawyer.
Key Background
Kennedy ran for president as an independent, launching his campaign in April 2023 and ending it in August, endorsing Trump. Throughout his campaign, Kennedy based a variety of his views on conspiracy theories—including bizarre claims that WiFi causes cancer, antidepressants can be linked to school shootings and chemicals found in water supply could cause children to become transgender. He has regularly derided fact-checks to these claims as censorship. He similarly blamed the end of his long-shot presidential bid on “systematic censorship and media control.” As a candidate, Kennedy saw sizable support for a third-party candidate: He had 8.7% support according to FiveThirtyEight’s average of polls gauging a matchup between Trump, President Joe Biden and Kennedy in July, just before Biden dropped out and weeks before Kennedy exited the race. After dropping out, Kennedy pitched voting Trump to his supporters as the way to get himself to Washington, D.C., citing Trump’s pledge to give him a health role.
Further Reading
Outbreaks of deadly illnesses could follow if anti-vaccine messages continue, doctors fear (NBC News)
