Trump Picks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services

Femi Ashekun/

US President-elect, Donald Trump, announced yesterday on X that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The appointment signals a major shift in federal health policy, with a focus on combating the influence of large food and pharmaceutical companies.

“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 in his post.

He praised Kennedy’s commitment to protecting Americans from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, and food additives, which he linked to the nation’s chronic health crisis.

Kennedy, an environmental attorney and longtime advocate for public health reform, has been a vocal critic of corporate practices he says harm public safety.

Trump described him as the right leader to restore federal health agencies to “gold standard scientific research” and transparency.

HHS plays a key role in overseeing public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Under Kennedy’s leadership, Trump pledged, these agencies will work to reduce chronic disease rates and prioritize consumer safety.

The announcement has sparked debate, with supporters applauding the promise of stricter regulations and critics raising questions about Kennedy’s controversial views on health and science.

Trump, however, framed the appointment as part of his broader plan to “Make America Great and Healthy Again.”

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