Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams blasted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Saturday, saying he “absolutely” should be fired as turmoil grips his health agencies.

Adams, who was surgeon general for the entirety of President Donald Trump‘s first administration, suggested that his former boss needs to separate himself from Kennedy, who he said has him “in a thrall.”

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“President Trump is clearly the leader on foreign policy, clearly the leader on the economy and tariffs. But when it comes to health he’s doing whatever RFK says,” Adams said in a CNN interview on Saturday. “I absolutely believe that he should [fire Kennedy] for the sake of the nation and the sake of his legacy.”

The former surgeon general added that he is “hopeful” Trump will oust Kennedy, again pointing to the possibility that increased scrutiny of one of his key Cabinet members weighs down the president’s legacy.

“I still am hopeful that President Trump will begin to see the danger that is being presented — not just to America, but to his own legacy — by continuing to have RFK in this position, making these horrific decisions,” Adams said.

Kennedy faced a tense Senate hearing on Friday, which included some Senate Republicans jumping into the fray to target the health and human services secretary over vaccines and the recent firing of former CDC Director Susan Monarez.

The ousting of Monarez, in particular, has embroiled the CDC, leading to multiple resignations at the agency and a public letter from HHS staffers demanding Kennedy’s resignation.

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Despite the turmoil, Trump and his administration have stood by Kennedy.

Both Trump and Vice President JD Vance praised Kennedy’s performance at the Friday hearing, with the president saying he “did very well” and Vance trashing senators “trying to lecture and ‘gotcha’ Bobby Kennedy.”