Official statements or policy documents from the Trump administration or relevant U.S. health agencies

Trump Supports RFK Jr.'s Day One Fluoride Removal Plan, Says 'Sounds Okay' Ahead of Election

Nov 3, 2024, 01:28 PM

Former President Donald Trump has pledged to give Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic and critic of public health policies, a significant role in his administration's health initiatives if he wins the upcoming presidential election on Tuesday. Kennedy stated that Trump promised him control over health agencies and that, on his first day in office, the Trump administration would advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public drinking water, which Kennedy described as 'industrial waste' associated with health risks like IQ loss and cancer. Trump expressed support for Kennedy's proposals, stating that the plan to remove fluoride 'sounds okay to me' and indicating openness to possibly banning certain vaccines, while considering guidance from Kennedy on the matter. Trump added, 'He's going to have a big role in healthcare. A very big role. He knows it better than anybody.' Kennedy has been privately advising the Trump transition team on prospects for cabinet positions. Critics and public health experts have raised concerns over Kennedy's potential influence, citing his promotion of debunked health claims and the potential reversal of long-standing public health measures like water fluoridation, which is credited with improving dental health nationwide.