Former President Donald J. Trump has announced his plans to nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote on Thursday.

“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.”

“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy

Again!”

According to a source familiar with the decision who spoke to Politico, Trump’s appointment is likely to upset many public health experts. Trump promised to let Kennedy have free rein over health and food policy in his administration following Kennedy’s decision to end his presidential campaign and endorse the now-president-elect.

Trump assured Kennedy he could “go wild” with health and food policy in his administration after Kennedy withdrew his presidential campaign to support the now-president-elect.

“He’s going to help make America healthy again… He has some plans, and we’re going to let him get to it,” Trump declared in his 2024 presidential victory speech.

Kennedy, a Democrat and scion of one of the nation’s most storied political families, gained prominence in recent years as an outspoken critic of vaccines and pandemic-related public health measures. Kennedy, who ran an independent presidential campaign in 2024 before dropping out, has cultivated a reputation as a maverick willing to take on entrenched institutions.

However, Kennedy’s views have long put him at odds with the medical establishment. He has faced backlash for linking vaccines to autism—and for opposing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns. If confirmed, Kennedy would lead a department with a $1.7 trillion budget and broad authority over healthcare policy, drug approval, and public health programs.

Trump, who campaigned on promises of “draining the swamp” and challenging entrenched bureaucracies, appears to see Kennedy’s outsider status as an asset.

Kennedy Jr. has been vocal about his concerns regarding food additives and their impact on public health. He has criticized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for allowing products like Froot Loops cereal to contain numerous ingredients, including artificial dyes, which he claims are linked to health issues.

“I’m going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them,” he said on MSNBC after Trump’s victory.

In his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, Kennedy advocates for stricter regulations on food additives and a shift towards less processed foods. He argues that current agricultural policies favor the use of chemicals and processed foods, contributing to health problems like obesity and chronic diseases.

“Foods with tartrazine in some countries carry a warning label that it may cause ADHD in children,” Kennedy explained in a recent video. “Yet here in the U.S., it’s in everything from popcorn and mac and cheese to sports drinks and chicken broth.”

Kennedy’s speech took aim at both the food industry and the government’s regulatory agencies, accusing them of prioritizing profits over public health. “When restaurants serve contaminated food, they’re fined or shut down,” he noted. “But when the government approves these poisons for supermarket shelves, a few people get very rich while the rest of us suffer.”

Source: https://celebys.com/