Trump Defends RFK Jr. Nomination: 'Less Radical Than You Think' Amid Vaccine Debate and GOP Concerns

President-elect Donald Trump addressed concerns surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services on Monday. Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump assured reporters that Kennedy’s approach would not be “radical.”

“I think he’s going to be much less radical than you would think,” Trump stated, emphasizing that Kennedy’s open-mindedness was a key factor in his decision to nominate him.

These remarks come as Kennedy begins a series of meetings with Republican senators to gain support for his confirmation. Several GOP senators have expressed unease about Kennedy’s history of vaccine skepticism and are seeking clarification on his current views.

Kennedy’s controversial stances have fueled opposition, primarily due to his positions on public health and regulatory issues that diverge from traditional Republican policies. For years, Kennedy has questioned the safety of vaccines and propagated debunked claims linking vaccinations to autism.

He has also argued that the increase in chronic diseases in the United States stems from factors like ultraprocessed foods, environmental toxins, and chemical additives. Among his more unconventional proposals are banning fluoridated water and expanding access to raw milk.

While Kennedy insists he is not anti-vaccine, he has repeatedly called into question the safety of childhood immunizations, asserting that the government has not conducted sufficient research to ensure their safety.

Despite this, Trump appeared receptive to some of Kennedy’s more contentious viewpoints during the press event, particularly concerning autism rates.

“If you look at autism, 30 years ago we had numbers like 1 in 200,000, or 1 in 100,000. Now I’m hearing numbers like 1 in 100. So something’s wrong.

There’s something wrong. And we’re going to find out about it,” Trump said, aligning himself with Kennedy’s skepticism.

Trump also moved to reassure the pharmaceutical industry that Kennedy’s appointment would not disrupt the market, despite Kennedy’s history of criticizing the sector. Trump shared that he had recently hosted pharmaceutical executives at Mar-a-Lago to discuss industry issues, specifically addressing their concerns about Kennedy’s rhetoric.

During the dinner, Trump emphasized his intent to tackle inefficiencies in the prescription drug supply chain, particularly focusing on pharmacy benefit managers, often referred to as “middlemen.”

These entities have been criticized for driving up drug prices. “We spent more time talking about that than anything else,” Trump said, adding, “We’re going to knock out the middleman. I don’t know who these middlemen are, but they’re rich as hell.”

Kennedy’s nomination marks a significant moment as Trump navigates his relationships with both Republican lawmakers and the broader pharmaceutical industry.

While his nomination has sparked concerns, Trump’s comments suggest an effort to strike a balance between Kennedy’s unconventional ideas and maintaining stability within the health sector.