President-elect Donald Trump nominated former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services, leaving Democrats shocked. Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, via X, formerly Twitter, called the nomination "Dangerous. Unqualified. Unserious." Likewise, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA.) said that the decision to nominate Kennedy is "f*****g insane," adding, "He's a vaccine denier and a tin foil hat conspiracy theorist. He will destroy our public health infrastructure and our vaccine distribution systems. This is going to cost lives." In his nomination, Trump said that Kennedy "will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!" Kennedy won Trump's support when he pulled out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed the president-elect. Trump regularly praised Kennedy on the campaign trail, promising that in a second Trump administration, Kennedy would be free to "do whatever he wants" with women's health and could generally "go wild" on health-related issues.
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08:02 AM EST
RFK Jr appointment leaves doctors aghast: 'Extraordinarily bad choice'
The appointment of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Donald Trump's Cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services has left many doctors and medical professionals stunned, with one calling it an "extraordinarily bad choice."
Kennedy Jr. was nominated to the role that would see him take charge of America's public health agencies on Thursday night, two months after he dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Trump.
Following the decision by the president-elect, many medical professionals were left aghast that a man who has previously been accused of amplifying conspiracy theories—most notably about the COVID vaccine—could potentially be in charge of the health of 350 million Americans from January if he is confirmed by the Senate.
Newsweek has contacted Trump's transition team and Kennedy Jr. for comment.
"I think this is an extraordinarily bad choice," Dr. Ashish Jha, a former Biden administration COVID-19 coordinator and the dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
Jha also noted that past HHS secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations have typically allowed scientists in their agencies to make decisions based on evidence. "RFK Jr. has signaled that he doesn't intend to follow this approach," Jha said. "Instead of relying on rigorous analysis and evidence, he seems poised to prioritize his own views in decision-making."
Read the full story by Martha McHardy on Newsweek.
07:57 AM EST
Conservative lawyer says Trump's cabinet picks will 'harm' the country
Conservative lawyer George Conway commented in an interview with CNN on President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks.
Speaking on his most recent picks—Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Conway said, "These three picks are truly as bad as you can imagine. If you were actively trying to do harm to the country, to destroy the country, these are the kinds of people, if not the people, you would pick...Mark my word-It is only going to get worse."
Conservative lawyer @gtconway3d on Trump’s latest cabinet picks:
“If you were actively trying to do harm to the country, to destroy the country, these are the kind of people, if not the people, you would pick…Mark my word-It is only going to get worse.” pic.twitter.com/y06dKPWws0
07:49 AM EST
WATCH: Trump says he plans to nominate Doug Burgum to Department of the Interior
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has been named to oversee the Department of the Interior in President-elect Donald Trump's second term.
Trump stated Thursday night at an America First Policy Institute event at his Mar-a-Lago resort that he intends to publicly announce Burgum's selection on Friday.
"He's going to head the Department of Interior and he's going to be fantastic," Trump said toward the end of his remarks. Trump said he would make a "formal" announcement on filling the position Friday.
07:44 AM EST
Is RFK Jr. anti-vaccine? Everything the HHS secretary nominee has said
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been nominated as the next Department of Health and Human Services secretary.
President-elect Donald Trump announced his pick on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, saying he was "thrilled" to announce that the anti-vaccine activist would lead the incoming administration's health agency.
"For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," Trump said, adding that Kennedy would "restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!"
Kennedy, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this year before switching to an independent bid that he abandoned in support of Trump's campaign, is one of the most vocal vaccine critics in the nation. Although Trump once called the activist the "dumbest member" of the dynastic family, Kennedy fell into favor after endorsing Trump.
The president-elect had previously suggested Kennedy would have "a big role" in the federal public health bureaucracy, but his transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick shut down rumors the position would be with HHS.
Read the full story by Katherine Fung on Newsweek.
07:41 AM EST
Candace Owens calls Robert F. Kennedy selection 'an amazing appointment'
Commentator Candace Owens has reacted to the news of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being tapped to be the next Department of Health and Human Services secretary.
Owens said on X, "RFK Jr. is an amazing appointment."
She added that he has "saved many children's lives & will save many more."
RFK Jr. is an amazing appointment. After being vax-injured, his charity was the only resource available for me to begin my journey to the truth about big pharma corruption. Once informed, I chose not to vax my children.
He has saved many children’s lives & will save many more.
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