Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will probably be on Capitol Hill this week for an onslaught of conferences with senators in an try and be confirmed after he was appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to guide the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies.
However like these Cupboard alternatives who went earlier than him (see: Pete Hegseth for secretary of protection or Tulsi Gabbard for director of nationwide intelligence), Kennedy’s affirmation is much from assured.
Already there are issues about his ideological compatibility with the MAGA people who will encompass him ought to he turn into the following HHS secretary. Kennedy’s views on abortion, corn syrups and seed oils, and vaccines, particularly, have earned him some enemies within the Republican Occasion.
Kennedy as soon as mentioned that he supported abortion entry till fetal viability (which most consultants consider is about 23-24 weeks), however more moderen statements recommend his stance is much less fastened. So, at a minimal, anti-abortion Republicans are more likely to pin him to an appropriate place on this particular coverage subject—although even members of the GOP would possibly cave if Kennedy agrees to make sure concessions if confirmed.
After all, if Kennedy’s previous statements on abortion don’t tank his bid, his promise to control farms and meals could. Kennedy has beforehand complained about agribusiness giants and genetically modified crops and pesticides, which appears to have angered some Republicans in farming states.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, advised Semafor that he’s already listening to issues from farm teams about Kennedy’s affirmation.
“He’s made some statements about pigs and about GMO corn and soybeans. I can’t believe that he’s going to have a problem with that,” Grassley mentioned. “But if he does, he has a problem with me.” Grassley additionally predicted that when Kennedy is pressed on his stances, “he’s not going to come out anti-agriculture.”
Then there’s Kennedy’s criticism of processed meals as child-killing evils that would land him in scorching water with the largest Huge Mac lover within the White Home: Trump.
Notably, these aren’t the one statements Kennedy has made that would threaten his place in Trump’s White Home. His reflexible hostility towards vaccines has additionally put him at odds with many Republicans, together with Senate GOP Chief Mitch McConnell. With out naming Kennedy instantly, McConnell prompt on Friday {that a} Kennedy legal professional’s prior bid to get the federal authorities to rescind its approval for the polio vaccine may jeopardize Kennedy’s nomination.
“Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed—they’re dangerous,” mentioned McConnell, a polio survivor. “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.”
Trump as soon as promised to let Kennedy “go wild” on well being and meals coverage in his administration, however his bid may very well be in bother if there are only a handful of Republican defectors. To fight this, Kennedy is reportedly on a mission to win over his skeptics.
In response to The Wall Avenue Journal, Kennedy’s plans for this week entail taking part in down his anti-vaxx file and saying that he’s aligned with the president-elect on his abortion stance. (Trump has mentioned that the problem is greatest left to the states after the U.S. Supreme Courtroom, in June 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade.) A supply near Kennedy additionally advised the outlet that the potential Cupboard decide will spend this week emphasizing the good thing about wholesome meals throughout his 25 conferences.
“Mr. Kennedy is immensely prepared to meet with over 2 dozen Senators this week. He is energized, he is excited to talk about President Trump’s vision to make America healthy again,” a Kennedy spokesperson advised Politico on Sunday.
Kennedy’s group is probably going projecting confidence as a result of they know Kennedy, like others, plucked for a spot in Trump’s Cupboard, will say and do no matter it takes to get confirmed. In spite of everything, Kennedy has already needed to repudiate previous statements he made about Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and he’s come a great distance in Trump World since his quixotic problem to President Joe Biden.
So Kennedy, for his half, will probably do as a lot as he can this week to allay some Republicans’ issues, and that may work within the quick time period—or till Trump will get fed up with listening to donor complaints about him and tosses him to the facet.
