Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed the specific mandate that former President Donald Trump gave him as he assumes a leadership role within the U.S. health agency. RFK Jr., a key adviser to Trump's team, outlined three key goals for the public health sector that focus on reform, scientific integrity and public well-being.
According to Kennedy, Trump tasked him with three main goals: first, to “eliminate corruption” within health agencies, particularly addressing the conflicts of interest that have allowed industry, particularly pharmaceuticals and food, to influence regulators.
Second, Trump wants Kennedy to give these agencies back their “gold standard” — a return to evidence-based, empirically based science that has been the hallmark of American health policy in recent decades.
Finally, the third priority is addressing the growing chronic disease crisis in America, particularly among children, with Trump setting a goal of achieving measurable reductions in these diseases within two years.
“The public health system has been captured by the interests it is supposed to regulate,” Kennedy said in an exclusive interview with NBC News. “Donald Trump wants to see results: a measurable reduction in chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes and asthma in America.” He is clear that this is an urgent priority.”
The surprising consensus between RFK Jr. and Donald Trump is rooted in their shared anti-establishment rhetoric. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, has long positioned himself as an idiosyncratic voice in U.S. politics, particularly with his strong opposition to vaccination policies. His controversial stance on the link between vaccinations and autism has made him a contentious figure in public health debates, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. However, his criticism of government overpower and corporate influence on public policy resonates with Trump's populist supporters.
Kennedy's potential appointment to a key health role in Trump's administration would represent a significant shift in public health policy. Trump's campaign has made clear that addressing the nation's epidemic of chronic diseases, particularly childhood illnesses, is a central part of his agenda. Kennedy's stance against big corporations' influence on public health policy is consistent with Trump's broader goal of reducing government regulations and reforming federal agencies.
Despite his controversial views on vaccines, Kennedy was also committed to environmental health, particularly fighting the harmful effects of pollution and toxic chemicals on public health.