RFK Jr. grilled about his views on vaccines and abortion at first confirmation hearing

Beneath rigorous questioning from senators Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid out his imaginative and prescient to steer the Division of Well being and Human Providers whereas backtracking on his previous statements in help of abortion and towards vaccines.

Kennedy, a former impartial presidential candidate, is one among President Donald Trump’s extra unorthodox Cupboard picks, as his nomination has drawn skepticism from these on the left and the fitting.

Whereas essentially the most aggressive traces of inquiry throughout his 3½-hour look earlier than the Senate Finance Committee got here from Democrats, Kennedy additionally stumbled dealing with questioning from Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., a physician who is anticipated to play a pivotal function in his affirmation, on the problem of Medicaid.

Kennedy stated Medicaid premiums and deductibles have been too excessive, saying most individuals who use this system are “not pleased.” However most Medicaid enrollees do not pay premiums or deductibles.

Cassidy chairs the Senate Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions Committee, which Kennedy will testify earlier than Thursday. He ignored questions from NBC Information about whether or not he was able to help Kennedy after the listening to.

Democrats repeatedly introduced up Kennedy’s lengthy historical past of vaccine skepticism Wednesday. In his opening assertion, he sought to get forward of assaults on the problem, prompting a quick eruption from a protester within the gallery.

“Information experiences have claimed that I’m anti-vaccine or anti-industry,” Kennedy stated.

“You’re!” the individual yelled earlier than being ushered out of the chamber.

Kennedy continued: “I’m neither; I’m pro-safety. I labored for years to boost consciousness in regards to the mercury and poisonous chemical compounds in fish, however that didn’t make me anti-fish. All of my youngsters are vaccinated, and I imagine vaccines have a vital function in well being care.”

Early on within the listening to, Kennedy and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the rating member of the committee, engaged in a heated alternate as Wyden tried to nail down Kennedy’s stance on the measles vaccine.

“Is measles lethal, sure or no?” Wyden requested Kennedy, who did not immediately reply the query. Kennedy contended once more that he wasn’t anti-vaccine.

Wyden pressed Kennedy about his feedback on a 2023 podcast by which he stated, “There’s no vaccine that’s secure and efficient.”

“Mr. Kennedy, all of this stuff can’t be true. So are you mendacity to Congress right this moment whenever you say you might be pro-vaccine?” Wyden stated.

Kennedy claimed statements he made on podcasts have “been repeatedly debunked.”

He additionally contended he would not dissuade individuals from getting sure vaccines.

“I help the measles vaccine. I help the polio vaccine. I’ll do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it tough or discourages individuals from taking something,” he stated.

At one other level, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., grew fiery as he challenged Kennedy on a few of his previous statements.

“Did you say that Lyme illness is extremely seemingly, a materially engineered bioweapon? Did you say Lyme illness is a extremely seemingly militarily engineered bioweapon?”

“I in all probability did say that,” Kennedy stated.

Bennet then requested Kennedy about his previous feedback supporting abortion rights. When Kennedy started to quibble, Bennet interrupted.

“This issues!” he stated, his voice rising. “This can be a job the place it’s life and dying … for households throughout this nation.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., famous that as Kennedy contended earlier than the committee that he did not oppose vaccines, Youngsters’s Well being Protection, an anti-vaccine group he based, was promoting onesies on-line Wednesday that learn “Unvaxxed Unafraid” and “No Vax. No drawback.”

Sanders pressed Kennedy about whether or not he would urge the group to take the merchandise down since he helps vaccines. Kennedy stated he now not held a put up with the group.

Senators in each events additionally put Kennedy’s previous feedback in help of abortion rights below the microscope.

Final 12 months, whereas he was working for president, Kennedy informed a podcast host that he would help permitting ladies to have abortions at full time period if that was their alternative.

However simply days later, he walked his place again, writing on X that “abortion ought to be authorized up till a sure variety of weeks, and restricted thereafter.”

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., requested Kennedy whether or not federal regulation protects a pregnant girl’s proper to emergency care if she has a life-threatening, incomplete miscarriage in an emergency room in a state the place abortion is restricted.

“I don’t know,” Kennedy stated. “The reply is I don’t know.”

Beneath questioning from Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Kennedy stated he believed legal guidelines about abortion ought to be as much as the states to resolve. He then outlined Trump’s stances on abortion, together with wanting to finish federal funding and late-term abortions. 

“I agree with President Trump that each abortion is a tragedy,” Kennedy stated. “I serve on the pleasure of the president. I’m going to implement his insurance policies.”

In one other notable alternate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tried to extract a promise that Kennedy would not depart his function at HHS and revenue from insurance policies he helped put in place.

“I need to know if you’ll commit proper now that not solely will you not go to work for drug corporations, you gained’t go to work suing the drug corporations and taking your rake out of that whilst you’re a secretary and for 4 years afterward?” Warren stated.

Kennedy would say solely that he would not take that cash whereas he’s well being and human companies secretary. Warren pressed on, saying he wasn’t answering the query.

“Senator, you’re asking me to not sue vaccine — pharmaceutical corporations,” Kennedy interrupted.

“No, I’m not!” Warren exclaimed, elevating her voice.

Kennedy additionally tried to allay any issues about his views on vitamin. Whereas he spoke in regards to the rise in continual ailments and elements in meals, he additionally famous that his “boss” likes to eat a McDonald’s cheeseburger and drink a Food plan Coke.

“You need to be capable of try this,” Kennedy stated to some chuckles about Trump’s penchant for consuming quick meals. “However you must know what the impacts are on your loved ones and your well being.”

As head of HHS, Kennedy would oversee highly effective businesses, together with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Meals and Drug Administration, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers. 

He can afford to lose the help of solely three Republicans if Democrats unite towards him when the complete Senate votes on his nomination. Up to now, no Republican senators have publicly opposed him.

After Wednesday’s listening to, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a Finance Committee member who faces re-election in 2026, stated he thought Kennedy cleared up his stance on vaccines.

“I’m in a presumptive lean sure place, and every little thing he did right this moment hasn’t eroded that place,” Tillis stated.