Former President Donald Trump said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will play a “big role” in his administration if he’s elected, expressed openness to Kennedy’s outlandish push to remove fluoride from public water and didn’t rule out banning some vaccines, NBC News reported.
Former Republican presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential nominee, ... [+]
Trump reiterated Kennedy would be involved in his administration in an interview with the network Sunday, but refused to discuss details when asked whether Kennedy would be head of the Health and Human Services Department or if Trump believes he could make it through the Senate confirmation process.
Trump said “it sounds okay to me, you know it’s possible,” when asked if he was “on board” with Kennedy’s proposal to remove fluoride from public water, after Kennedy tweeted Saturday that “the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water” on inauguration day.
Trump also said he would “talk to” Kennedy “and talk to other people” about whether to ban certain vaccines, as Kennedy is well-known for spreading misinformation and conspiracies about the Covid-19 vaccine and other widely accepted child vaccines, including the debunked theory that some are linked to autism.
When asked about Trump’s stance on Kennedy’s water and vaccine proposals, Trump campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez told Forbes “while President Trump has received a variety of policy ideas, he is focused on Tuesday’s election.”
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Kennedy suggested fluoridation is “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” in a post Saturday on X, but major health groups say the practice is safe and can promote dental health, as long as fluoride levels are within the recommended amount. Exposure above those levels can lead to lowered IQ in children, according to a review by the National Institutes of Health’s toxicology program published in August based on studies of fluoride levels at twice the recommended limit.
“I’m gonna let him go wild on health. I’m gonna let him go wild on the food. I’m gonna let him go wild on medicines,” Trump said of Kennedy at his rally at Madison Square Garden last weekend.
Kennedy initially ran for president as a Democrat challenging President Joe Biden for the party’s nomination before switching his party affiliation to independent. Kennedy dropped his third-party bid in August and endorsed Trump, and has appeared alongside him on the campaign trail. Kennedy has been meeting privately with officials from Trump’s transition team to help with the agenda for a new Trump administration, the Washington Post reported last week, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions who said Kennedy is likely to have significant control over health and food safety and could have some Cabinet and agency officials reporting to him if Trump is elected. Kennedy is more likely to have a role as a White House czar rather than one that would require Senate confirmation, the Post reported.
Co-chair of Trump’s transition team, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, told CNN last week that Kennedy had convinced him to question the efficacy of vaccines: “why do you think vaccines are safe? . . . they’re not proven,” Lutnick said. “I think it’ll be pretty cool to give [Kennedy] the data [on vaccines]. Let’s see what he comes up with.” Lutnick also dismissed speculation that Kennedy would be Health and Human Services Secretary.
RFK Jr. Endorses Trump After Calling Him ‘Sociopath’ — His Reversal, Explained (Forbes)
Why RFK Jr.’s Exit From Race Probably Won’t Help Trump Very Much (Forbes)
RFK Jr. Will Speak About ‘Path Forward’ Friday Amid Reports He Will Drop Out And Endorse Trump (Forbes)