Washington, September 6, 2025 — President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his support for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. despite mounting health concerns and fierce bipartisan backlash over Kennedy’s controversial vaccine policies.
Since assuming office, Kennedy—signaled by some as a vaccine skeptic—has taken a series of actions that have alarmed public health experts. These include slashing funding for vaccine research, restricting access to COVID-19 vaccines, and dismissing the CDC director. Such moves have drawn concern over potential disease outbreaks and declining vaccination rates.
Despite criticism, Trump appears to value Kennedy’s contrarian stance. “He has a different take,” Trump said, signaling continued trust in Kennedy’s judgment—even as his actions risk undermining the administration’s public health credibility.
Kennedy’s tenure at the helm of Health and Human Services has sparked growing controversy. During a heated Senate hearing, bipartisan pressure intensified over his restructuring of public health institutions, including dismantling the CDC’s advisory panel and canceling key vaccine contracts.
Amid rising calls for resignation—including from family members like Joe Kennedy III, who accused him of rejecting science and jeopardizing public health—Trump remains steadfast in his support, offering notable political risk for an embattled administration.
Source: Reuters
