Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined forces with Donald Trump, signaling his intent to influence health policy and target federal agencies if Trump wins the 2024 election.
Emily Baumgaertner reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been named to Trump’s transition team and may play a role in public health policy if Trump wins.
- Kennedy has long voiced doubts about vaccine safety and seeks to target agencies like the CDC and FDA to end what he calls the "chronic disease epidemic."
- Public health experts worry that Kennedy’s influence could undermine vaccine confidence, especially in light of his history of spreading misinformation.
Key quote:
“I think we need to reallocate a lot of energy and resources toward eliminating the causes of chronic disease and studying the causes — identifying the etiology and the origins of chronic diseases — rather than focusing on cures and treatments which benefit the pharmaceutical industry.”
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Why this matters:
Kennedy’s potential role in shaping health policy could disrupt trust in vaccines and federal health agencies at a time when public confidence is crucial to preventing disease outbreaks. His fringe views on vaccines and chronic illness raise concerns about misinformation in key health sectors.
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