Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could also be poised to play a key well being position within the subsequent administration ought to Donald Trump get re-elected, in keeping with two individuals near the marketing campaign and conversant in the plans.
The present considering is that the position for the previous impartial candidate can be spearheading what one of many individuals described because the “Operation Warp Speed for childhood power illness,” referring to the title of the Covid vaccine improvement undertaking throughout Trump’s first time period.
One of the sources stated the irony just isn’t misplaced, given Kennedy’s well-known criticism of the Covid vaccine and different immunizations.
Kennedy, for instance, has repeatedly claimed that vaccines are linked to autism, although for many years quite a few research throughout a number of international locations have debunked the affiliation. Concerns a few potential hyperlink between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine have persevered for years after a now-retracted 1998 paper claimed a connection.
There is critical frequent floor between the Trump marketing campaign and Kennedy, on stopping situations similar to weight problems and diabetes in youngsters, an individual conversant in the plans stated, stressing that plans are nonetheless fluid and nothing has been determined.
Obesity and diabetes are main points within the U.S. Obesity impacts practically 15 million youngsters, in keeping with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1000’s of children and youths have Type 2 diabetes, a situation linked to weight problems, and numbers are growing. On the marketing campaign path, each Trump and Kennedy have pitched a “Make America Healthy Again” motion.
Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine skilled at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who has been an open critic of Kennedy, stated that, regardless of the missteps, “Operation Warp Speed” throughout Trump’s time period was “the one biggest achievement” of the administration.
However, he wasn’t positive how Warp Speed would apply to childhood power illnesses — or in what means Kennedy can be useful.
“I feel his science denialism makes him the unsuitable particular person for any type of progress,” Offit stated.
In an interview Wednesday, former CDC director Robert Redfield in contrast the undertaking to President John. F. Kennedy’s pledge to set foot on the moon.
“He didn’t understand how it could work however he believed it was potential and he made it occur,” Redfield informed NBC News. “Sometimes seeing the potential and being a pacesetter and main the nation to behave could make issues that many individuals assume should not potential turn out to be actuality.”
Trump marketing campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt additionally emphasised that there nonetheless are “no formal selections” about positions in a possible administration, however that Trump “has stated he’ll work alongside passionate voices like RFK Jr. to make America wholesome once more by offering households with secure meals and ending the power illness epidemic plaguing our kids,” referring to kind 2 diabetes.
“President Trump can even set up a particular presidential fee of impartial minds and can cost them with investigating what’s inflicting the decades-long enhance in power diseases,” she added.
Kennedy has lately claimed that Trump promised him “management of the general public well being companies,” together with the Department of Health and Human Services and its sub-agencies — the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. He’ll get appointed to the Department of Agriculture as effectively, Kennedy claimed, “which is — which, you understand, is essential to creating America wholesome.”
That’s not off-base, in keeping with one of many individuals conversant in the planning. If the plan goes ahead, Kennedy’s mandate can be an “all-of-government-project” and permit him to marshall assets from all of those companies for childhood power illness. How the undertaking can be paid for is unclear, though “Operation Warp Speed” — which operated between May 2020 by February 2021 — had a price range of as a lot as $18 billion for the event of Covid vaccines, funded by the non-public sector and U.S. taxpayers.
In a press release to NBC News, Kennedy stated he was grateful to the previous president “for his dedication to ending the power illness epidemic that now impacts 50% of our kids.”
“I stand prepared to assist him rid the general public well being companies of their pervasive conflicts and corruption and restore their custom of gold-standard, evidence-based science,” he stated.
Kennedy may additionally be excited about heading up an company like HHS or CDC, however that might require Senate approval, which may very well be an uphill battle relying on the partisan breakdown within the chamber after Election Day.
Drew Altman, the CEO of KFF, a nonpartisan group that researches well being coverage points, stated Kennedy’s anti-vaccine views and different controversial previous positions may pose an issue there.
“I’m positive they want to keep away from a present within the Senate and an unpleasant affirmation course of,” he stated.
What’s nonetheless to be decided, Altman stated, is how a lot — if any — authority the Warp Speed position would give Kennedy to command companies such because the FDA or CDC. The position, the supply stated, can be appointed by the president and wouldn’t require congressional approval. Altman was skeptical.
“It permits them to offer him a place, a place they promised to him, as a reward for nevertheless many votes they obtained from welcoming him into the fold however with none actual energy or authority for a significant company or division,” Altman stated.
Kennedy is already attending to know public well being leaders from Trump’s world. That consists of former HHS Secretary Eric Hargan and former CDC Director Robert Redfield –– an unlikely alliance given Kennedy attacked Redfield a number of instances in his guide.
Redfield, a former HIV researcher, headed the CDC throughout the early days of the pandemic and was usually criticized for missteps, together with controversial Covid testing pointers.
Trump transition co-chair Howard Lutnick additionally praised Kennedy in an interview with CNN Wednesday night time, and questioned whether or not vaccines are literally secure.
Kennedy can also be making the rounds with state agriculture leaders like Sidney Miller of Texas, provided that meals will probably be a central focus for this potential enterprise. Celebrity Kennedy ally Russell Brand has additionally been concerned in some conferences and conversations, in keeping with one supply. Brand, the comedian actor-turned-wellness influencer, has been accused of sexual assaults by 4 girls, allegations which he has denied. Addiction and the way it impacts youngsters and households is anticipated to be one other high precedence, which is a pet challenge for Brand who himself is in restoration.