Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Donald J. Trump has suggested would have a “big role” in his second administration, wasted no time laying out potential public health measures he would oversee if given the chance.
Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer who has no medical or public health degrees and has promoted anti-vaccine conspiracies for years, told NBC News on Wednesday that he would not “take away anybody’s vaccines,” but that he wanted Americans to be informed with the “best information” available so they “can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them.”
“People ought to have choice,” he said, adding that he has “never been anti-vaccine.”
Mr. Kennedy has been a prominent critic of the childhood vaccination schedule and has frequently linked some vaccines to autism and other health issues. Studies have long shown no such connection.
On the topic of adding fluoride to drinking water, which helps to protect teeth, Mr. Kennedy said the mineral was “lowering I.Q. in our children,” despite decades’ worth of studies that show its efficacy and safety. “I think fluoride is on its way out,” he said. “I think the faster that it goes out, the better. I’m not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I’m going to advise the water districts about their legal liability.”
The treatment of public water with small amounts of fluoride has been widely hailed as one of the most important public health interventions of the past century; the American Dental Association has said that it reduces dental decay by at least 25 percent.
Mr. Kennedy also said that if he were given a position in Mr. Trump’s administration, he would focus on eliminating corruption at public health agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Some departments, including those focused on nutrition, “have to go,” he told NBC. “They’re not protecting our kids.”
“Once Americans are getting good science and allowed to make their own choices, they’re going to get a lot healthier,” he added. As president, Mr. Trump would have only limited authority to make some of these changes, and some would need congressional approval. But on the campaign trail, Mr. Trump said he would let Mr. Kennedy “go wild on health.”
“I want to be in the White House, and he has assured me that I’m going to have that,” Mr. Kennedy said this week.
hypothetically, if they do stop water fluoridation, is it possible/practical to add the proper amount to one’s own water? or would getting the dose right and the required ingredients be dangerous? Or would just using a bit more toothpaste give enough of the effect to make such a thing not worth it anyway?
Just listened to all 4 parts of Behind the Bastards podcast on RFK Jr. and holy shit is this dude unhinged. He shouldn’t be in charge of anything, much less something as vital as public health
This piece of shit is going to kill lots of innocent people before he’s done.
he would not “take away anybody’s vaccines,” but that he wanted Americans to be informed with the “best information” available so they “can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them.”
“People ought to have choice,” he said, adding that he has “never been anti-vaccine.”
Like you informed the people of Samoa, Bobby?
America played SHITHEAD bingo and marked every fucking spot. I fucking hate every person who voted for these fuckbags.
You’re not kidding. We got both of the bad options out of this.
Both? I live in Texas we played blackout fuckitup bingo and marked every fucking spot. Ted goddamn Cruz is back… and everyone hates that fuck head.
Even Ted Cruz hates Ted Cruz.
I believe this statement and so does he. But somehow its still fake news and the liberal agenda… probably also a caravan of immigrants
As a scientist who works with all kinds of things humans ingest, I am very scared of this man and the deregulations he’ll bring. But you know, fuck science and education, cuz ‘Merica.
Side note, how do we reach people who reject science? I always thought education was the path forward, but they seem to be attacking that route too. Are we doomed to live in a world of conspiracy theories and misinformation?
Edit: The ACS is offering a course on “How to Navigate Trust in Science Conversations” I guess I’ll start here. It’s not the quick answer I’m looking for, but I guess it’s a start. I think it’s free for non-ACS members if anyone is interested.
You fucking can’t. There are nurses who don’t believe in the care they’re supposed to administer. This brain-dead chuckle-fuck is just going to validate their asinine ideals, just like the heathen who started the “vaccines cause autism” rumor.
They have been attacking education because it is the path forward.
You don’t reach these people because they truly believe that their ignorance is just as valid as your scientific education, experience and background.
Well, yeah. Bobs last comment on Facebook got like 50 likes, so he’s a scientist now.
If you ban books, defund public schools and make university/collage fees so insanely expensive, then you are asking for trouble.
I am curious if this is going to be in favor of big pharma. I mean he’s a anti vaccine dude. So, no vaccines means more sickness, and perhaps is more profitable to be on regular meds than just a cocktail you get ones for life…
There are indications that things like abortion bans will affect the number of present and futures doctors/specialists in particular in places like Texas. Perhaps if doctors and dentists come to the table in large #'s with meaningful pushback the damage can be mitigated.
I sincerely hope RFK’s promised position proves to be largely ceremonial, because his proposals could really impact nation-wide quality of life. Especially for kids who have no choice or voice.
Anyone else read this as a veiled threat? Like “we’re not going to tell you to stop adding fluoride, but it sure would be a shame if your grant money stopped”
That’s how I read it too. They’re going to inform water facilities about “liabilities” regarding fluoridated drinking water. Basically using federal pressure to get them to remove it or face litigation or funding cuts.
It seems RFK Jr is walking back some of his previous statements about vaccines. Notably, that he doesn’t seem to want to ban them all anymore. From just two days ago:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/04/election-trump-rfk-jr-vaccines-fluoride
He’s still planning on making everyone’s teeth rot though.
“Choice” is the kinder gentler form of “it’s going away.”
Like when you tell your kid “I’ll think about it” instead of “no” because you don’t want to deal with their shit.
Dear RFK Jr,
Please put the brain worm back in and let him finish the damn job. Maybe share him with the rest of your nazi buddies.
They didn’t take it out, it died of starvation.
It’ll swing back the other way, and once everything is stripped away we’ll be positioned to have a major change. That’s all I can hope for.
Unless elections are suspended, there’s absolutely no way such major changes where EVERYONE but the richest of the rich lose where the conservatives will stay in power. If they actually screw the idiots and take things away that are obvious then they will be so upset they won’t vote R quite so eagerly.
Imo the two worst things that the DNC has done was shutting out Bernie in place of Hillary, and then running fucking biden against dumpy. If they had put Bernie in 2016 then Trump would have lost hard. If they had offered up fresh blood with new ideas instead of an octogenarian clinging to the billionaire establishment with moderate conservative policy then they likely would have won this time.
Biden came in pretending to be not trump, but his stance on immigration, tariffs and many other topics are so disgusting it’s hard to see him (or his replacement) as anything other than a vote for the status quo… and the status quo right now is miserable.
You’ve neglected to include the part about having already been through a Trump presidency and that everyone has forgotten, in just four years, how his presidency was worse than we had anticipated.
Trump is going into office wholly unopposed. There is nothing, no one, to stop him from doing what he wants. We will be feeling the outcome of this election for generations, if not the lifespan of this country. Not to mention the lives and countries lost on the other side of the world as he allows Netanyahu and Putin and Xi to do whatever they want.
There is no pendulum. It’s a broken ass apple cart being pushed and pulled by a donkey and elephant grasping at the last straw of life.
This smug asshole is already running his mouth. Four more years of this shit.
Those are finally some good news 👍
Hmm yes, let’s put the guy with an actual fucking brain worm in charge of public health.
What could go wrong?
I hope your doctor fires you as a patient over this comment.
Tell me how you believe it’s “good news” that someone who has no education in health care is best suited to tell people they should do whatever they want when it comes to their health care needs? Tell me how it’s “good news” that someone with no understanding of science is the best person to tell parents with no health care education that they should do whatever they want for the health of their children? How is it “good news” that the person being considered to run our nation’s health system believes “good science” is the stuff that has been scientifically proven false?
Well I’ll probably die sooner so that’s awesome
