Official statements or reports from the meetings covered by major news outlets

Trump Nominates RFK Jr., Who Now Supports Polio Vaccine, as HHS Secretary; Senators Voice Support

Dec 17, 2024, 02:20 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The nomination has sparked discussions due to Kennedy's controversial views on vaccines. Kennedy, known for his skepticism towards vaccines, attempted to reassure senators during meetings on Capitol Hill, stating, "I'm all for the polio vaccine." He intends to meet with 25 GOP senators this week to discuss his nomination, describing the meetings as "very productive." President-elect Trump defended his choice, saying, "I think he's going to be much less radical than you would think. I think he's got a very open mind. Otherwise, I wouldn't have put him there." He added, "You're not going to lose the polio vaccine." Kennedy's advocacy for "Making America Healthy Again" (MAHA) has garnered support from some senators. Senator Rick Scott expressed his support, stating, "Finally, we're going to have an HHS Secretary that wakes up every day and says, 'How do we keep everybody healthy in this country?'" Senator Markwayne Mullin also voiced his backing after meeting with Kennedy. However, some public health leaders have expressed concern over Kennedy's past statements on vaccines. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a polio survivor, commented, "Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed—they're dangerous."