Topline

Former President Donald Trump has indicated he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a well-known vaccine skeptic, conspiracy theorist and former independent presidential candidate — to a key health care role in his administration that Kennedy has already hinted at trying to eliminate Fluoride from water, although the role and his plans remain vague.

Important facts

What can Kennedy really do about vaccines?

Some health experts doubt Kennedy could change much about vaccine approval and regulation even if he were heading an agency like the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lawrence O. Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University, told the New York Times that Trump would likely not be able to ban certain vaccines even if he gave Kennedy a health care post, saying Trump could by the FDA Do not unilaterally ban regulated vaccines without a legal dispute. But Trump could pressure the FDA to revoke vaccine approvals and appoint judges inclined to limit the power of federal agencies. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told CNBC that Kennedy could seek to appoint people who share his views on the vaccine to the FDA and CDC advisory panels that make vaccine approvals and use recommendations, but said that states could ignore these recommendations. But some health experts expressed fears that Kennedy would have a larger platform to spread vaccine misinformation and potentially discourage more Americans from getting vaccinated. Drew Altman, CEO of health policy research firm KFF, told CNBC that many more people will “hear what (Kennedy) has to say, believe it and act on it,” potentially posing health risks. Some health experts worry that cases of diseases like measles could continue to rise because childhood vaccination rates have already fallen.

What did Kennedy say about vaccines and other conspiracies?

Kennedy's stance on vaccines, fluoride and other health issues has been criticized by health experts and organizations for being rooted in conspiracy theories. He has repeatedly made false claims that vaccines cause autism and served as chairman of Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it wants to end health crises in children but is a source of misinformation about vaccines. He compared vaccination requirements to the Holocaust in 2022, for which he apologized, and was previously banned from YouTube and Instagram for spreading misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine. He also made other bizarre claims about Covid-19, including that it was “targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people” and “the people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” Kennedy also made misleading claims that fluoride is linked to a variety of medical conditions, including IQ loss and bone disease. Although some studies have pointed to links between high levels of fluoride in drinking water and lower IQ in children and bone diseases, health experts say the amount of fluoride required to cause these diseases is much higher than is normally found in drinking water.

Surprising fact

Kennedy has no scientific or medical qualifications. Before his political career, he was an environmental lawyer.

Important background

Kennedy ran for president as an independent, launching his campaign in April 2023 and ending it in August, endorsing Trump. Throughout his campaign, Kennedy relied on conspiracy theories for a variety of his views – including bizarre claims that Wi-Fi causes cancer, antidepressants could be linked to school shootings and chemicals found in water supplies could cause children to become transgender. He has regularly derided verification of these claims as censorship. He also blamed “systematic censorship and media control” for the failure of his long-term presidential bid. As a candidate, Kennedy saw significant support for a third-party candidate: He had 8.7% support, according to FiveThirtyEight's average poll, which found a duel between Trump, President Joe Biden and Kennedy in July, just before Biden dropped out and weeks before Kennedy dropped out of the race . After his exit, Kennedy suggested his supporters vote for Trump to get to Washington, D.C., citing Trump's promise to give him a health care role.

Further reading

Doctors fear deadly disease outbreaks could occur if anti-vaccine messages continue (NBC News)

RFK Jr. Begins 2024 Independent Run: Here Are All the Conspiracies He Promotes, From Vaccinations to Mass Shootings (Forbes)