Trump nominates anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr. as US health secretary – National
President-elect of the United States Donald Trump said Thursday he was nominating an anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the Ministry of Health and Social Servicesputting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the Medicare and Medicaid welfare programs.
“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and pharmaceutical companies that have engaged in public health deception, misinformation and misinformation,” Trump said in a post on his website Truth Social announcing his appointment. Kennedy, he said, would “make America great and healthy again!” »
Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential election, dropped his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his support with a promise to play a role in health policy within the ‘administration.
He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump rallies.
A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy is a lawyer who over several decades has built a loyal following of people who admire his lawsuits against big pesticide and pharmaceutical companies. He pushed for stricter regulations regarding ingredients in foods.
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With the Trump campaign, he worked to build support for young mothers in particular, with his message of healthier eating in the United States and promising to take inspiration from regulations imposed in Europe. In a nod to Trump’s initial campaign slogan, he named his effort “Make America Healthy Again.”
It’s unclear how this will fit with Trump’s history of deregulating major industries, including food. Trump, for example, pushed to reduce inspections in the meat industry.
Kennedy’s position on vaccines has also made him a controversial figure among Democrats and some Republicans, raising questions about his ability to be confirmed even in a GOP-controlled Senate. Kennedy has espoused misinformation about vaccine safety, including pushing a completely discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism.
He also said he would recommend eliminating fluoride from drinking water. Adding hardware has been cited as leading to better dental health.
HHS has more than 80,000 employees across the country. It is home to the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and the National Institutes of Health.
Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, including the Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking measures to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19. 19 vaccines.
Kennedy took leave of the group when he announced his candidacy for president, but he is listed as one of his lawyers in the lawsuit.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
