United States President-elect Donald Trump has picked controversial politician and vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr to be Secretary of Well being and Human Providers, a job he lobbied for when suspended his personal election marketing campaign and supported that of the Republican candidate.
“I’m thrilled to announce Robert F Kennedy Jr as the USA Secretary of Well being and Human Providers [HHS],” Trump wrote on Thursday on his social media platform, Reality Social.
“For too lengthy, People have been crushed by the economic meals advanced and drug firms who’ve engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation in the case of Public Well being.”
Excessive profile and controversial
Kennedy is a contentious however not stunning appointment. He ran for president, first as a Democrat after which as an unbiased, earlier than dropping out in August and endorsing Trump in change for a task in a future administration.
“He’s going to assist make America wholesome once more,” Trump stated in his victory speech on November 6. “He desires to do some issues, and we’re going to let him get to it.”
The Division of Well being and Human Providers is in command of nearly every thing associated to well being at a federal degree within the US.
It oversees the Food and Drug Administration, the Centres for Illness Management and Prevention, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, and the huge Medicare and Medicaid Providers programmes, which offer well being protection for these with restricted earnings, these aged 65 and older, and disabled individuals.
Kennedy has been a part of the transition workforce and reviewing candidates’ resumes for jobs within the division.
The collection of Kennedy is only one of a flurry of picks Trump has made in recent days to serve in his cupboard – if he can get them confirmed by the Senate.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio has been lined up for secretary of state, a alternative that was met with widespread approval.
Extra controversial have been his collection of outspoken Congressman Matt Gaetz as legal professional basic, Fox Information presenter Pete Hegseth as defence secretary, and former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of nationwide intelligence.
False medical claims
Kennedy will even deliver some issues of his personal.
He has been criticised for making false medical claims, together with that vaccines are linked to autism. He opposed state and federal restrictions imposed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and was accused of spreading misinformation concerning the virus.
He additionally has stated he would advocate eradicating fluoride from ingesting water. The addition of the fabric has been cited as resulting in improved dental well being.
Historic household
Kennedy is from a household of main Democratic politicians. His uncle was former President John F Kennedy, who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. His father, Robert F Kennedy, a former US legal professional basic and senator, was additionally fatally shot 5 years later when he was making his personal run for the White Home.
Kennedy grew to become a high-profile environmental lawyer as founding father of the Waterkeeper Alliance that was initially fashioned to wash up New York’s Hudson River. The group grew to be the biggest nonprofit targeted on clear water, increasing to 48 international locations.
Kennedy suffers from a speech obstacle referred to as spasmodic dysphonia, which causes muscle tissues within the larynx to spasm.
His priorities now concentrate on human well being, addressing what he calls the “continual illness epidemic” of situations together with weight problems, diabetes and autism, and decreasing chemical substances in meals.
Kennedy has instructed he would intestine the 18,000-employee Meals and Drug Administration – which ensures the protection of meals, medication and medical gadgets – and change tons of of workers on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.
He has accused the FDA of waging warfare on choices for merchandise that he claims may assist human well being reminiscent of uncooked milk, sure nutritional vitamins and stem cell remedy. He additionally doubts the effectiveness of measles vaccines.
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy claimed the virus was engineered to assault Caucasians and Black individuals, sparing Chinese language individuals and Ashkenazi Jews.
He additionally talked about struggling well being results from a worm that acquired into his mind, ate a part of it and died.
His controversial views have led his own family to disavow him. “Bobby may share the identical title as our father, however he doesn’t share the identical values, imaginative and prescient or judgment,” his siblings stated in an announcement posted on X. “We denounce his candidacy and imagine it to be perilous for our nation.”
Taken collectively, these views may additionally elevate questions on his means to be confirmed even in a Senate managed by Republicans.
Nonetheless, he has change into good pals with Trump, who primarily seems to be giving Kennedy free rein to vary the US’s well being companies.
“Mr Kennedy will restore these companies to the traditions of Gold Normal Scientific Analysis, and beacons of Transparency, to finish the Persistent Illness epidemic, and to Make America Nice and Wholesome Once more!” Trump stated in his assertion.
Kennedy’s first problem might, in reality, be the consuming habits of his new boss, who’s famously keen on quick meals.
He just lately stated in an interview with the Joe Polish present that Trump’s food regimen was very dangerous and that the meals on the marketing campaign aircraft was “virtually poison”.
