Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, faced intense questioning from US Senators on Wednesday during his first confirmation hearing. The hearing was marked by a series of inquiries into Kennedy’s controversial stance on vaccines, including his past comments linking vaccines to autism, as well as his views on abortion and public health.
Democratic Senators raised concerns over Kennedy’s long-standing anti-vaccine rhetoric, with a particular focus on his claims surrounding the 2019 measles outbreak in Samoa and his views on COVID-19. Kennedy attempted to clarify that he is not anti-vaccine and argued that his advocacy has been about questioning powerful interests and pushing for more honest discussions around public health.
“I’m not a conspiracy theorist,” Kennedy stated, defending his stance by emphasizing his commitment to challenging the status quo. “That’s a pejorative that’s applied to me to keep me from asking difficult questions.”
Republican Senators, however, appeared more receptive to Kennedy’s explanations, with some supporting his views on the U.S. food industry and abortion rights. Kennedy reiterated his pro-choice position, stating that he believes every abortion is a tragedy.
Despite interruptions from protesters who voiced objections to his controversial positions, Kennedy received applause for promising to make America “healthy again.”
Kennedy’s nomination faces additional scrutiny, with a second round of questioning set for Thursday before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. His confirmation remains uncertain, as his views on vaccines and other health-related issues have sparked significant debate.