Trump supports RFK Jr following intense cross-examination in Congress
In a series of events that have stirred controversy, Robert Kennedy, the appointed health secretary under President Donald Trump, has found himself at the centre of a partisan battle over vaccines and public health policies.
During a recent Senate hearing, Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, criticised Kennedy for cancelling mRNA grants, while Senator Maria Cantwell labelled him a "charlatan" over his attacks on mRNA research. The heated exchange was part of a three-hour grilling that sometimes turned into shouting matches.
The criticism against Kennedy has not been limited to Cassidy and Cantwell. Senators John Barrasso and Thom Tillis have also expressed dissent against Kennedy's actions. Ron Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, demanded Kennedy be sworn in under oath during the hearing, accusing him of lying in prior testimony.
Kennedy's past as a leading anti-vaccine activist has come under scrutiny, with many questioning his suitability for the role of health secretary. His tenure has seen restrictions on vaccine access, cuts to federal research grants, and announcements of new research on debunked claims about autism.
The controversy surrounding Kennedy has led to a response from several states. A West Coast alliance of California, Washington, and Oregon announced they would create their own vaccine recommendation body to counter Kennedy's influence at the national level. Florida, meanwhile, announced it would end all immunization requirements, including at schools.
The controversy reached a boiling point when Kennedy accused Senator Maggie Hassan of making things up to scare people regarding vaccine availability for children. In response, Hassan called for Kennedy's resignation.
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Sue Monarez, was ousted a week before the event. Monarez, in response, claimed Kennedy's claims were false and at times, patently ridiculous. Kennedy, at the same dinner with tech industry executives, criticised the CDC's handling of the Covid pandemic, accusing it of failing with "disastrous and nonsensical" policies.
Trump defended Kennedy, saying he did well during the hearing but acknowledged that his approach was unconventional. However, Wyden called for Kennedy's resignation, stating that if he doesn't step down, President Donald Trump should fire him.
Kennedy has advocated for new leadership at the CDC, emphasizing the need for bold, competent, and creative individuals. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he accused Monarez, the former CDC director, of a "deliberate effort to weaken America's public-health system and vaccine protections."
As the controversy continues to unfold, the future of Kennedy's tenure as health secretary remains uncertain. The partisan battle over vaccines and public health policies is deepening, with Kennedy's actions and statements continuing to divide opinion.
