Donald Trump hinted that he would tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to help steer America’s health policy weeks before he was elected president. True to his word, Trump made it official in his acceptance speech on Wednesday morning, promising Kennedy Jr. would “help make America healthy again” and allowing him to “go wild on health.”
It’s uncertain whether Trump will follow through on his promise, but it’s worth noting that Kennedy lacks formal healthcare qualifications; his background is in environmental law. A former Democrat from a prominent liberal family, RFK Jr. has gained national attention for endorsing controversial conspiracy theories.
Among his views, he alleges that billionaires and the pharmaceutical industry are working together to control the American public.
He’s also a staunch believer in the theory that vaccines cause childhood autism—despite consistent, thorough debunking by the medical community. He also been outspoken on fertility and environmental toxins affecting reproductive health, sparking debates at every turn. With his views on health—especially women’s health—now in the spotlight, people are buzzing about what this might mean for the future.
Let’s dive into RFK Jr.’s stances on women’s health and explore what his new role could mean for policy moving forward.
Abortion
Kennedy Jr. has shifted his stance on abortion multiple times. In a podcast interview with Sage Steele, he initially opposed any government restrictions, saying he would allow abortion “even if it’s full term.”
After backlash, RFK Jr. clarified on social media that he supports legal abortion up to a certain number of weeks, advocating for restrictions after fetal viability. Kennedy explained the change by saying he was “willing to listen” to different perspectives on the issue.
At the Iowa State Fair last year, Kennedy Jr. told NBC News that he would support a federal ban on abortion after three months of pregnancy. His campaign later released a statement backtracking his initial statement.
The removal of fluoride in water
Shortly after Trump made his acceptance speech on Wednesday morning, Kennedy Jr. went on NPR to discuss what he believes his role will be as a leader over America’s health policy. Although RFK Jr. said he’s unsure what the full strategy would be, there would be a recommendation against putting fluoride in drinking water.
Kennedy Jr.’s position on removing fluoride from drinking water is influenced by a recent court ruling on October 4. In the case, Food & Water Watch, along with other organizations, argued that the EPA had not properly evaluated the health risks of fluoride under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The case has drawn particular attention to concerns about fluoride’s potential neurological effects in children.
“One of the findings of that was that at this level, fluoride is almost certainly causing neurological development and loss of IQ in our children, as well as arthritis, bone breakage, thyroid problems, bone cancer and a number of other diseases,” RFK Jr. said.
Fact Check: Although the National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted studies on high fluoride exposure, which suggested some neurological risks, these findings are not necessarily applicable to the low concentrations present in drinking water. When administered in the correct dosage, fluoride has been shown to effectively reduce the risk of tooth decay.
This practice is widely endorsed by leading health organizations, including the CDC, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, all of which support water fluoridation as a safe and effective measure to prevent tooth decay.
In fact, removing fluoride from drinking water could lead to a significant rise in tooth decay, especially in children and communities with limited access to dental care. This increase in dental issues would likely drive up healthcare costs, as preventative treatments like fluoridated water are far more cost-effective than treating decayed teeth.
Vaccines
Kennedy Jr., who is chair of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, has continuously advocated against the COVID and polio vaccines and has insisted that childhood vaccines cause autism.
“There’s no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective,” RFK Jr. said during a Lex Fridman podcast last year.
Kennedy later told Fridman that the polio vaccine may have caused more deaths than it prevented. When asked about the COVID-19 vaccine in February, Kennedy Jr. responded, “I would have said that they need to do science to show that the vaccine is actually going to avert more problems than it’s causing.”
In recent weeks, the Trump campaign has fully aligned with Kennedy’s views, endorsing his anti-vaccine rhetoric and raising the possibility of a vaccine ban under a second Trump presidency.
Fact Check: The CDC estimates that the polio vaccine, widely regarded as one of the greatest medical advancements of the 20th century, has saved over 1.5 million lives and prevented paralysis in more than 20 million children. Rigorous clinical trials confirmed the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, with millions of lives having been saved worldwide.
For example, a 2022 study estimated that the vaccines prevented over 3 million deaths and 18 million hospitalizations in the U.S. alone. While side effects can occur, they are typically mild and temporary, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.
‘Cleaning up’ public health agencies
If appointed to a Trump administration, Kennedy Jr. has vowed to “clean up” public health agencies, which he claims have become “sock puppets” for the industries they are meant to regulate.
In a Twitter rant last month, RFK Jr. declared that the FDA’s “war on public health is about to change.”
He criticized the agency’s actions, citing its suppression of treatments and therapies such as psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelation compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, and nutraceuticals—anything that promotes human health but can’t be patented by the pharmaceutical industry.
“If you work for the FDA and are part of this corrupt system, I have two messages for you: 1. Preserve your records, and 2. Pack your bags,” Kennedy warned.
Fact Check: Kennedy Jr.’s claims that public health agencies like the CDC and FDA are influenced by industry interests have been widely debated. While there have been instances of conflicts of interest or industry influence in some decisions, these claims are often seen as exaggerated.
Public health agencies are tasked with balancing public health needs and industry realities, but they are also held to rigorous standards of evidence and accountability. Kennedy Jr.’s view reflects his broader skepticism of pharmaceutical companies and traditional health practices.