President Donald Trump is maintaining his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary whose policies are reshaping the country’s approach to vaccines, despite mounting pressure from Congress and public health concerns.
Since taking charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kennedy has reduced funding for vaccine research, restricted access to COVID-19 shots, and removed the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Public health professionals say these decisions could have sweeping effects on the nation’s wellness.
They also caution that an outbreak of infectious disease tied to reduced vaccination rates could politically damage Trump.
White House stands firm
Trump has continued to publicly endorse Kennedy.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday after lawmakers questioned Kennedy at a congressional hearing, Trump described the secretary as someone with unconventional but valuable views.
The president said Kennedy is “different” in how he approaches health issues and emphasised that he appreciated that perspective.
A White House official said Trump and Kennedy maintain regular contact, though not as frequently as the president does with other cabinet members.
The official noted that while Trump does not share Kennedy’s strong views on certain issues, he trusts the health secretary’s judgment and has consistently backed him.
Political ties and appointment
Trump appointed Kennedy to lead the health department after drawing electoral support from the Make America Healthy Again movement, which was inspired by Kennedy.
Before joining the Trump administration, Kennedy briefly pursued the presidency as both a Democrat and an independent before suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.
In December, Trump sought to downplay concerns about Kennedy’s longstanding criticism of vaccines.
At the time, the president-elect said Kennedy would likely be less radical in office than expected and described him as having “an open mind.”
The vaccine narrative
Kennedy’s approach has already coincided with significant policy moves at the state level.
Florida leaders announced plans this week to eliminate all state vaccine mandates, including those for schoolchildren.
Trump appeared to express caution when asked about the move, pointing to the success of historic vaccines such as the polio shot and stressing the need for careful decisions on exemptions.
Polling shows a widening partisan divide on vaccine trust.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey found that 75% of Democrats in May said vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella were “very safe” for children, up from 64% in 2020.
In contrast, the share of Republicans who viewed vaccines as “very safe” fell to 41% this year from 57% five years earlier.
Kennedy’s leadership drew sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans during a contentious congressional hearing on Thursday.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed concerns about his handling of vaccine policy, reflecting the unease his tenure has generated across the political spectrum.
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