In an interview simply hours after his affirmation as Well being and Human Providers Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. outlined his priorities in response to particular prompts by Fox Information host Laura Ingraham.
“It’s MAHA time” learn a chyron as Kennedy joined this system, later altering to “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!”—a variation on Trump’s Make America Nice Once more slogan.
Kennedy asserted that the U.S. is “the sickest nation on the earth,” a speaking level he has repeated many occasions in reference to its low rating on varied metrics amongst developed nations. He mentioned that People face not solely a well being disaster but in addition a “non secular disaster.”
Kennedy advised that addressing “ailments of isolation” can be a serious focus of his function within the Trump Administration, saying that disconnection from communities drives persistent ailments, suicide, despair, alcoholism, and dependancy. “I believe now we have to handle all of these issues on the identical time. We will’t simply say we’re going to make you bodily wholesome.”
“That’s a tall order,” Ingraham responded earlier than discussing how unconventional a decide Kennedy was for the function he’s assuming, enjoying a clip of Democratic Senate Chief Chuck Schumer criticizing Kennedy’s {qualifications}.
“The {qualifications} that Senator Schumer is speaking about there, are the very {qualifications} that acquired us to the place we’re immediately,” Kennedy mentioned. “We do want a break. We want any person completely different who can are available and say, ‘I’m going to be a disruptor. I’m not going to let the meals business and the pharmaceutical business run well being coverage anymore.’”
Right here’s what else Kennedy spoke about.
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‘We should not be subsidizing individuals to eat poison’
When requested by Ingraham what meals components he’d successfully take away from the U.S., Kennedy didn’t say he would outright ban any, arguing that People ought to have “freedom of selection.” “If you wish to eat Twinkies,” he mentioned, “you ought to have the ability to eat them.” However he promised to result in “radical transparency” in informing individuals of meals elements and their well being results.
Kennedy did say, nevertheless, that he would goal the Supplemental Vitamin Help Program (meals stamps) in addition to college lunches for modifications. Kennedy has beforehand criticized the applications for prioritizing ultra-processed meals and sugary drinks, calling for a reorientation towards more healthy choices. “We should not be subsidizing individuals to eat poison,” he mentioned.
Learn Extra: RFK Jr. Says Extremely-Processed Meals Are ‘Poison’—However That He Gained’t Ban Them
‘I’m not going to remove anyone’s vaccine’
Kennedy additionally mentioned, “I’m not going to remove anyone’s vaccine,” promising as a substitute to publicize extra info on their efficacy and negative effects, claiming presently inadequate security research and surveillance of vaccine results.
“If individuals are pleased with their vaccines, they ought to have the ability to get them,” Kennedy mentioned. “What we’re going to do is give individuals good science.”
Requested whether or not he thought the COVID-19 vaccine was secure, Kennedy instructed Ingraham: “We don’t have good information on it. And that could be a crime.”
Learn Extra: RFK Jr. Denied He Is Anti-Vaccine Throughout His Affirmation Listening to. Right here’s His Document
‘I’ve an inventory in my head’
Kennedy additionally promised firings within the Division and its subagencies—together with the world’s main analysis funder Nationwide Institutes of Well being.
“I’ve an inventory in my head,” Kennedy instructed Ingraham when requested if he had an inventory of particular individuals to take away. Kennedy mentioned that lower-level federal staff had been “public-spirited, good public servants, good American patriots, and hardworking individuals.” and that he was extra interested by “transferring away the individuals who have made actually dangerous choices.”
When requested if he would reduce the Division’s workforce in half, Kennedy mentioned there are 90,000 staff and he’d “be shocked if there have been 50% cuts.” “For those who’ve been concerned in good science—you don’t have anything to fret about. For those who care about public well being, you’ve acquired nothing to fret about.”
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‘We’ve got now a capability to essentially examine it’
Ingraham additionally requested Kennedy about marijuana and abortion medication, to which he replied that extra research must be carried out.
Kennedy mentioned he was “fearful” in regards to the “catastrophic impacts” that high-THC marijuana can have on youth however added “that fear additionally needs to be balanced” with how 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized leisure use of the drug and too many individuals have been incarcerated over the drug. Kennedy mentioned state-level legalization permits for extra intensive research on the consequences of marijuana.
Kennedy additionally mentioned related security research shall be carried out on abortion-inducing medication, however he didn’t say whether or not he thinks entry to these drugs must be tightened.
Learn Extra: RFK Jr. Says He’ll Comply with Trump’s Lead on Abortion
