On February 13, the U.S. Senate voted 52–48 to confirm Donald Trump’s appointee for health secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
RFK Jr. rose to prominence during the 2020–2024 period, gaining recognition for opposing COVID-19 lockdown policies, vaccine mandates, and eventually launching a formidable independent presidential campaign after leaving the Democratic Party.
He dropped out of the race on August 23 of last year, opting instead to endorse Trump and start a new movement known as MAHA—Make America Healthy Again.
Since then, he has expressed a strong interest in shaping the Trump administration’s health policies. Trump’s decision to appoint him as health secretary drew criticism, even from Republican senators Mitch McConnell and Bill Cassidy.
Every Republican voted in favour of Kennedy during the January 30 confirmation hearing, advancing his nomination to the final vote, where he succeeded with the same partisan margin.
During the confirmation process, Kennedy was spotted using a Zyn nicotine pouch as Democratic senators scrutinized his record of vaccine skepticism.
Kennedy’s confirmation signifies a commitment to removing fluoride from public water supplies and accelerating the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul health policies implemented during the Biden administration.
