Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, is set to emphasize during his Senate confirmation hearings that he does not hold an “anti-vaccine” position. Instead, Kennedy plans to advocate for vaccine safety and transparency in his opening statement to the Senate Finance Committee.
Kennedy is scheduled to appear before the committee on Wednesday, where he will assert, “News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety. I worked for years to raise awareness about the mercury and toxic chemicals in fish, but that didn’t make me anti-fish. All of my kids are vaccinated, and I believe vaccines have a critical role in healthcare.”
The hearings are expected to be contentious due to Kennedy’s past statements regarding vaccines, including his repeated claims linking vaccines to autism. Kennedy has also been associated with Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit where he served in leadership roles, known for its advocacy against vaccines and legal challenges against federal vaccine policies.
In his defense, Kennedy will stress that the United States faces significant health challenges, with chronic diseases being a major concern. He plans to thank President Trump for entrusting him with the task of improving public health, stating his intentions to scrutinize food additives, remove financial conflicts of interest within health agencies, and foster an HHS driven by honest, unbiased science.
These hearings come at a time when Kennedy’s confirmation is uncertain. However, his message seems to resonate with some GOP senators, who might be convinced by his pivot towards advocating for safety and transparency in vaccine policy rather than outright opposition.
Article generated from legacy media reports.
Editor’s Commentary
It’s understandable that he will be taking a more “mainstream” stance during today’s hearings. Those of us who are vehemently opposed to vaccine mandates as well as the “bioweapons” that some of them represent should not be too discouraged if he sounds like a pro-vaxxer today.
He’s not. But he understands the need to toe the line and if that’s what it takes to earn a position that will allow him to address the plethora of health concerns we have in America, so be it. What he says to get there is far less important than what he does once he’s in position.
