Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Thursday faced a second day of expected fierce grilling at his Senate confirmation hearings to be President Trump’s health secretary.
The longtime anti-vaccine activist endured more sharp questioning from Democrats and even some GOP lawmakers about his vaccine skepticism, along with shifting views on abortion and food and drug safety.
Kennedy sought to frame himself as a fearless proponent of ending chronic disease and improving the health of all Americans.
“The nation is ready for change,” Kennedy said. “If confirmed, I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track.”
Kennedy put in a shaky performance on his first day of hearings before the finance committee, which has oversight over some aspects of the sprawling health and human services role.
He failed to effectively rebut his past harsh attacks on life-saving vaccines, abandoned his long-standing position supporting abortion rights and even mixed up Medicare and Medicaid.
Things didn’t get any smoother on Thursday when he appeared at a health committee hearing chaired by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a medical doctor who says he is undecided on Kennedy’s nomination.
“Your past of undermining confidence in vaccines with unfounded or misleading arguments concerns me,” Cassidy said. “Can I trust that that is now in the past?”
Kennedy dodged Cassidy’s demand that he concede there is no link between vaccines and autism, a junk science conspiracy theory Kennedy has repeated.
“That is a very troubling response because the studies are there,” progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders chimed in. “Your job was to have looked at those studies as an applicant for this job.”
Democrats tore into Kennedy over his past statements that “no vaccine is safe and effective,” and his multimillion dollar deal referring clients to law firms suing a vaccine maker, a gig he says he will keep even if he is confirmed to a job overseeing the industry.
Some Republicans, especially those from farm states, sounded less than happy with Kennedy’s claims that Big Ag and food processing companies are poisoning generations of Americans, especially children.
He sought to mend fences with conservative opponents of abortion rights by asserting that he would implement Trump’s policies. That includes the stance that states may ban or severely limit abortion even though RFK Jr. had previously passionately said women should have the right to choose regardless of where they live.
Like all Trump cabinet nominees, Kennedy, 71, likely needs 50 votes for confirmation, meaning he can probably afford to lose the support of no more than three GOP lawmakers.
Moderate Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski are considered tough sells for RFK Jr.
Former GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, survived childhood polio and is a fervent advocate for vaccines, making him another potential no vote.
On the Democratic side, Sen. John Fetterman is a potential wild card. The Pennsylvania lawmaker met with Kennedy and says he hasn’t decided whether to oppose his nomination.