Former President Donald Trump mentioned that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would have a “massive position within the administration” if he wins on Tuesday, telling NBC News in a cellphone interview that he was open to a few of his extra controversial concepts.
Kennedy, who ran for president as an unbiased this 12 months earlier than dropping his bid and endorsing Trump, has lengthy unfold conspiracies and falsehoods about vaccines and different public well being issues. He has, for instance, regularly claimed that vaccines are linked to autism, regardless that for many years, research have debunked this idea.
Asked Sunday whether or not banning sure vaccines could be an choice throughout a second time period, the previous president didn’t rule it out.
“Well I’m going to speak to [Kennedy] and speak to different folks, and I’ll decide, however he’s a really proficient man and has sturdy views,” Trump mentioned.
Trump declined to speak about particular roles Kennedy may play in his administration, however in current public appearances, Trump has made clear that he’s envisioning a outstanding position for him.
“He can do something he desires,” Trump mentioned throughout an occasion Thursday in Arizona.
He mentioned that Kennedy was “going to work on well being and ladies’s well being,” and two sources near the Trump marketing campaign have advised NBC News that he may play a outstanding position in battling “continual childhood illness.”
On Friday, Kennedy tweeted that on its first day in workplace, a Trump administration would push to ban fluoride in water, claiming it’s “industrial waste” that results in issues like most cancers and different illnesses.
“Well, I haven’t talked to him about it but, however it sounds okay to me,” Trump mentioned Sunday when requested about that plan. “You know, it’s potential.”
Major public well being teams assist water fluoridation, and well being teams additionally emphasize that the observe is secure.
The Trump group has embraced Kennedy and a few of his fringe views in current days.
Last week, Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of the Trump transition group, praised Kennedy and questioned whether or not vaccines had been “fantastic.”
On an episode of the “The Joe Rogan Experience” final week, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s operating mate, additionally spoke about his personal expertise with the Covid vaccine, expressing skepticism about it.