President Trump's decision to appoint Robert Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services was controversial, to say the least. In a recent poll conducted by The Hill, 61 percent of Americans disapproved of Kennedy Jr.’s appointment.
This likely stems from his skepticism towards vaccines. While he has denied this on multiple occasions, Kennedy Jr. has perpetuated countless myths regarding vaccines, questioning their effectiveness, and even claiming that they cause autism. He has also stated on the record that he regrets getting his kids vaccinated. The argument made by Kennedy Jr. that vaccines have not been adequately studied is objectively false. All vaccines used in the United States are required to go through rigorous testing that takes, on average, 10-15 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then works with healthcare professionals to monitor the vaccines and make sure that they stay safe and reliable.
Kennedy Jr. has also made provenly false claims regarding fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride, which is recognized among scientists to protect teeth against decay, is included in 63 percent of the United States’ tap water. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Kennedy Jr. stated that fluoride is “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease." This has been proven false. The cited effects are only present with very high concentrations of fluoride. According to the Harvard School of Public health, U.S. citizens receive 0.7 mg/L of fluoride, well below the maximum allowable concentration of 4.0 mg/L.
Kennedy Jr. has also drawn criticism for his claims regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, he has claimed that “COVID-19 is targeted to attack caucasians and Black people.” However, health specialists agree that Kennedy Jr.’s claims are false, and the virus does not “target” any specific ethnic group. Statements like this spread misinformation in a way that creates the roots of so many anti-emitic and anti-Chinese beliefs, and can cause microaggressions.
For the head of a country's Department of Health and Human Services, this is unacceptable. It should be expected that a person in such a powerful position is fully educated in their field. This spread of misinformation is not only harmful to Kennedy Jr.'s image, but to our society as a whole.
Kennedy Jr.'s track record of spreading dangerous misinformation undermines public health, erodes trust in science, and puts lives at risk. No amount of advocacy for food safety can outweigh the damage caused by promoting false information in a role that demands scientific integrity.