President-Elect Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, an appointment that triggered criticism and fear, considering how Kennedy is an anti-vaccine activist and a peddler of health conspiracy theories.
Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to state that Mr Kennedy would restore the nation's health agencies "to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!"
Trump also rallied against corporations and drug companies, stating Americans have been crushed by the "industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health" for too long.
Kennedy took to X to acknowledge the posting. "We have a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic," his post read.
However, not many were thrilled about Kennedy's appointment, considering that many viewed his outlandish views on health matters as "dangerous" and "disturbing."
Public Citizen, a progressive nonprofit organization focusing on consumer advocacy, too lashed out at the appointment. "He shouldn’t be allowed in the building at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), let alone be placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency." The organisation added that by appointing Kennedy, Trump was courting another "policy-driven public health catastrophe."
There are reasons why many tend to view his appointment as "scary", especially considering his earlier statements. Read on to know his bizarre beliefs.
1) Covid targetted certain races: Kennedy was caught on camera during a dinner party in Manhattan last year, telling his fellow diners that COVID-19 is targetted to attack only Caucasians and Black people and the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.
2) Covid-like bio-weapons: He also warned of more infections in the pipeline and claimed the Chinese are spending hundreds of millions of dollars developing ethnic bioweapons. He claimed the US was also developing ethnic bioweapons by collecting Russian and Chinese DNA so that "we can target people by race."
3) Dr Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates exaggerated Covid: Kennedy also believes that former White House medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates exaggerated the pandemic to promote vaccines: In his 2021 book, Kennedy Jr accused Fauci and Gates of launching "a historic coup d'état against Western democracy". Kennedy also believes in the use of unapproved treatments for Covid-19, such as ivermectin.
4) Anti-vaxxer: He founded the Children’s Health Defense nonprofit, a firm which pushed vaccine scepticism, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The group also created a controversial film said targeted the Black community with vaccine misinformation. Kennedy has spread false information about vaccines, including that they cause autism — a theory that has long been debunked.
He has also absurdly claimed that a 2002 vaccine study included a control group of children 6 months of age and younger who were fed tuna sandwiches contaminated with mercury.
However, Kennedy insists he is not anti-vaccine and only wants vaccines to be rigorously tested.
5) Removal of fluoride from water supply: Kennedy wants fluoride removed from the water supply as he believes the chemical is linked to a host of medical issues. But, in his claims, the cases he put forth are linked to severe exposure to fluoride doses, which is far higher than what most people would experience drinking fluoridated water and brushing their teeth.