At a rally held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump stated that if he is elected, he would permit wellness conspiracist and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take significant actions concerning health policies. Kennedy, who was previously a Democrat and part of a well-known political family, initially launched a campaign as an independent third-party candidate and has spent nearly two decades promoting conspiracy theories, which are likely to shape policies under a potential Trump administration.
In August, Kennedy suspended his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump. Both Trump and Kennedy’s campaigns received financial support from billionaire donor Timothy Mellon. There have been previous signs suggesting that Kennedy could hold a position within a Trump administration, especially in health-related areas. Kennedy even adapted Trump’s MAGA slogan into “Make America Healthy Again” or MAHA. Trump’s statements indicate that Kennedy might secure a cabinet role, possibly overseeing Health and Human Services (HHS).
Kennedy is currently campaigning for Trump alongside former Democrat and conspiracy theorist Tulsi Gabbard. Kennedy has long been involved in spreading misinformation and disinformation about health, particularly vaccines. In 2014, he joined the board of Children’s Health Defense (CHD), an organization known for promoting debunked conspiracy theories linking vaccines and environmental factors to conditions such as autism. In 2021, Meta banned Kennedy’s Instagram account for spreading misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine and identified him as one of 12 individuals responsible for the majority of vaccine disinformation across social media platforms. During the Covid-19 pandemic, both Kennedy’s and CHD’s profiles rose, with CHD raising record funds in 2021.
Meta reinstated Kennedy’s Instagram account last year when he announced his presidential candidacy, though CHD remains banned from Meta’s platforms. Recently, Kennedy has reiterated unfounded conspiracies that could potentially undermine confidence in the 2024 election integrity.
While campaigning for presidency, Kennedy tried distancing himself from the anti-vax movement but continued disseminating disinformation, such as claims that the Biden administration violated the Nuremberg Code by mandating vaccines. Kennedy’s concept of making America healthy again includes controversial plans to challenge the FDA’s stance on psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, and other substances.
The Department of Health and Human Services oversees 13 agencies, including the FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In an interview with NBC News during his presidential campaign, Kennedy expressed his intent to overhaul these agencies, claiming they are influenced by corporations. He proposed rigorous vaccine testing, which health experts warned could lead to many children losing access to vaccines. Trump has expressed plans to withhold funding from schools that mandate vaccinations. Kennedy’s approach also involves replacing NIH scientists who research infectious diseases with a focus on the environmental factors and vaccines he believes are responsible for illnesses.
Previously, during his campaign, Kennedy hosted a health policy roundtable with doctors advocating for unproven Covid-19 treatments. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung conveyed to WIRED that President Trump has initiated a Trump-Vance transition leadership group to prepare for post-election processes. However, he described discussions regarding appointments in a potential second Trump administration as premature.