RFK Jr: Fact-checking his views on health policy
Written by the BBC Verify team
Donald Trump has put forward Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a candidate for the position of U.S. Secretary of Health. This role involves managing areas such as medical research, food safety, and public health initiatives.
In a recent NPR interview, Kennedy revealed that Trump had provided him with three key directives: to eliminate "corruption" within health organizations, to restore these institutions to "evidence-based science and medicine," and to tackle the ongoing epidemic of chronic diseases.
Kennedy has publicly outlined several goals for his administration that are intertwined with misinformation. This has raised significant alarm among many healthcare professionals, who have voiced their worries about his candidacy, particularly regarding his opinions on vaccines and various health issues.
In other areas, he has greater backing, particularly when it comes to examining how food is processed and the application of additives.
RFK Jr.'s Views On Vaccine Safety Explained
In his interview with NPR, Kennedy mentioned that no one would have their access to vaccines removed.
He states that he aims to enhance the research on vaccine safety, which he thinks has significant gaps. He emphasizes the importance of providing accurate information so that individuals can make educated decisions.
However, experts have thoroughly rejected his criticisms of the vaccine safety system.
Although Kennedy has repeatedly claimed that he is not against vaccinations and has mentioned that he and his children are vaccinated, he has consistently expressed various widely discredited assertions regarding the dangers of vaccines.
One of his primary misleading statements, which he reiterated in a 2023 interview with Fox News, was that "vaccines cause autism."
This idea gained attention through the work of former UK physician Andrew Wakefield, who has since lost credibility.
However, the 1998 study by Wakefield was eventually withdrawn by the Lancet medical journal. Numerous subsequent studies conducted in various countries have determined that there is no connection between vaccines and autism.
Dr. David Elliman, a specialist in child health at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, stated that RFK Jr has continued to spread falsehoods about vaccines, showing a complete lack of respect for the facts.
Dr. Elliman expresses concern, stating, "If he takes office and continues his current approach, I'm worried not only about the vaccination efforts in the United States but also about similar initiatives worldwide and the overall state of healthcare."
"Vaccines have likely saved more lives and have been studied more thoroughly than nearly every other facet of healthcare. RFK Jr could hinder this progress and contribute to the suffering and loss of countless individuals, especially children."
Debunking Myths About Fluoride In Water
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral known for its ability to help prevent tooth decay. It is added to the water supply in several countries, including the United States, where approximately 63% of people have access to fluoridated water.
Kennedy has been actively opposing this practice for quite some time. In a recent post on X, he asserted that during his presidency, Trump would recommend that "all US water systems eliminate fluoride from public water supplies."
The president-elect mentioned to NBC, “I haven't had a chance to speak with [Kennedy] about it yet, but it seems fine to me. It’s definitely a possibility.”
In his post on X, Kennedy claimed that fluoride is linked to various health issues, including arthritis, broken bones, bone cancer, decreased IQ, developmental disorders, and thyroid problems.
However, Professor Avijit Banerjee, who heads the cariology and operative dentistry department at King’s College London, stated that "the possible negative impacts of fluoride mentioned have not been linked to the extremely low concentrations of fluoride that are used in water fluoridation initiatives."
Kennedy referenced a ruling from September 2024 by a judge in California that called for more investigation into potential dangers after a report indicated a possible connection between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ levels in children.
However, that report has generated significant debate. Dr. Ray Lowry from the British Fluoridation Society points out that the decision wasn't a complete rejection of fluoride; instead, it indicated that the EPA might need to conduct further investigations to confirm there is a sufficient safety margin.
Trump has put forward vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. as his choice for Secretary of Health.
His Thoughts On Ultra-Processed Foods
Kennedy has been vocal about his worries regarding food additives and the significant role that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have in the diets of many individuals.
In October, he mentioned in a post on X that "highly processed foods are fueling the obesity crisis."
Kennedy has also connected ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) to various health issues, including cancers in young adults and mental health problems.
There is increasing proof that these types of foods may not be beneficial for our health. While recent studies link various widespread health issues, such as cancer, obesity, and depression, to our diets, there is still no definitive evidence that ultra-processed foods are the direct cause of these problems.
Dr. Nerys Astbury, an expert in diet and obesity from the Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences at the University of Oxford, notes that enhancing dietary habits and lowering the population’s weight will certainly decrease the incidence of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. However, she mentions that the impact of food processing on a healthy diet is still somewhat ambiguous.
Dr. David Nunan from the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) emphasizes that we must take into account various elements, such as overall lifestyle, social and economic influences, and access to healthcare. He points out that current research is unable to clearly distinguish the specific effects of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) from these other influences.
RFK Jr. has suspended his presidential campaign and has thrown his support behind Trump.
RFK Jr.'s Covid Assertions Face Backlash
Kennedy, who has been an outspoken opponent of measures aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19, stated at a press conference last year, as shown in a video shared by the New York Post, that "Covid-19 specifically affects white individuals and Black people. The groups with the highest immunity are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people."
Health experts assert that these statements are untrue and that the virus does not specifically affect any particular ethnic community.
Professor Melinda Mills from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at Oxford University states that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s assertions are quite harmful because they lack scientific backing.
Numerous reputable studies on Covid-19 have demonstrated that the variation in infection and mortality rates among different socioeconomic and ethnic groups is linked to issues like inequality, lack of resources, and residing in larger or multi-generational households.
After facing significant backlash for his comments, Kennedy stated on X that he does not "believe and never suggested that the ethnic impact was intentionally created." He referenced a study, asserting that it backed up his claims regarding the role of genetic factors in immunity.
However, one of the authors of the report firmly disagreed with this interpretation, stating that the study's findings did not back up Kennedy's assertions at all.
